Spirited UAE go down to Chile

A spirited UAE came up with a better show but went down to Chile in an international football friendly at the Zayed Sports City on Saturday night.

Published: Sun 10 Oct 2010, 11:48 PM

Last updated: Wed 31 Jan 2024, 3:49 PM

The UAE team, ranked 90th in the FIFA world rankings, lost 0-2 to No 10-ranked Chile, but it gave Srecko Katanec’s men a good work out. The UAE take on Angola in another friendly on Tuesday.

The friendlies are part of the team’s preparations for the 20th Gulf Cup in Yemen and the AFC Asian Cup finals which will be held in Doha, Qatar, in January, 2011. UAE defeated Kuwait 3-0 in a friendly in September.

Chile started off like a well-oiled machine with a quick passing game and using the flanks. And they didn’t have to wait too long to go ahead.

Chile’s Emilio Hernandez was fouled by Mahmoud Khamis inside the box and referee Khalil Al Ghamdi from Saudi Arabia pointed to the spot. Defender Roberto Cereceda, who played in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and has a doping cloud hanging over him, scored the penalty with a crisp left-footer as UAE goalkeeper Majid Naser dived the wrong way.

Chile almost doubled it five minutes later but Hector Mancilla’s tap in off a Jose Fuenzalida cross from the right went over the cross bar.

Being a goal behind seemed to have spurred the home team as it came up with a flurry of raids in the space of seven minutes.

Subait Khater saw his free-kick go wide before captain Fahed Masoud came up with a couple of threatening free-kicks which should have put the UAE ahead if not for Chile goalkeeper and World Cupper Luis Marin.

Fahed Masoud’s swerving free-kick was punched over the crossbar by Marin in the 17th minute and the latter was again in action in two minutes later after another screamer from Masoud was punched over the crossbar. UAE had won four flag-kicks until then.

Two minutes later, UAE thought they had the equaliser when Faisal Khalil won the ball from a defender inside the box but his shot went over the crossbar.

Chile almost added the second before the half hour when Hector Mancilla, the lynchpin on the left, broke through with a solo with defender Khalid Sabeel tailing him. But UAE goalkeeper Majid Naser got a hand to Mancilla’s left-footer before Waleed Abbas made the clearance.

The UAE were denied by the woodwork in the 36th minute after Subait Khater’s pile driver hit the crossbar.

But a minute later, Chile doubled it through Pedro Morales, whose left-footer found the net. UAE goalkeeper Majid Naser was at hand again to deny Chile after he punched away a sharp and powerful header from Mark Gonzalez off a corner.

Then at the stroke of half-time UAE captain Masoud’s dangerous free-kick missed everyone and hit the far post.

Both coaches made a host of substitutions to give the others in the squad a workout.

UAE captain Fahed Masoud gave way to Ahmed Khamis while Mohammed Abdulrahman came in for Yasir Matar. Chile’s Esteban Paredes, who featured in the World Cup, came in for Pedro Morales.

The UAE came up with a better showing after the break with Subait Khater being a threat to the Chilean defence. His dangerous free-kick in the 61st minute was kept out by goalkeeper Luis Marin. But Khater had to go off with 15 minutes left on the clock because of an injury and was replaced by Sultan Bargash Al Minhali.

With eight minutes left for the final whistle, Mohammed Abdulrahman’s threatening header from close range was cleared by the Chilean defence.

Teams:

UAE: Majid Naser, Khalid Sabeel, Yousuf Jaber, Waleed Abbas, Faris Juma, Fahed Masoud, Mahmoud Khamis, Subait Khater, Yasir Matar, Ismail Matar, Faisal Khalil. Substitutes: Mahmoud Almas, Obaid Al Taweela, Fawzi Fayez, Ali Rabie, Mohammed Qasim, Ahmed Khamis, Sultan Bargash Al Minhali, Amer Mubarak, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Saeed Alkas. Coach: Srecko Katanec.

Chile: Luis Marin, Jose Fuenzalida, Osvaldo Gonzalez, Hans Martinez, Roberto Cereceda, Claudio Maldonaldo, Rodrigo Milar, Pedro Morales, Emilio Hernandez, Hector Mancilla, Mark Gonzalez. Substitutes: Claudio Santis, Esteban Paredes, Paulo Maghalaes, Carlos Villaneuva, Fernando Meneses, Sebastian Toro. Coach: Marcelo Bielsa.