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UAE go down fighting

ABU DHABI — UAE’s series of international football friendlies ended in yet another defeat as they went down to Angola at the Zayed Sports City on Tuesday night.

Angola, nicknamed ‘Palancas Negras,’ and ranked 93 in the FIFA World Rankings to UAE’s 90, scored a 2-0 win. Maeco Antonio scored the first goal in the 21^st minute. Substitute Dorivaldo Dias added the second with two minutes left for the final whistle. UAE had gone down to No.10 ranked Chile 0-2 at the same venue on Saturday. The friendlies are part of the team’s preparations for the 20^th 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.

UAE coach Srecko Katanec gave starts to goalkeeper Obaid Al Taweela instead of Majid Naser and also to Sultan Bargash Al Minhali. Ismail Matar and Yasir Matar were on the bench

Angola Domingos Fernandes and Maeco Antonio had the UAE defence on their toes in the opening minutes with the duo coming up with some threatening forays.

UAE had their first opportunity in the 13^th minute but Sultan Bargash Al Minhali fired his freekick over the cross bar.

Angola who piled on the pressure right through the first half, went ahead in the 21^st minute through Maeco Antonio after a goof up by goalkeeper Obaid Al Taweela. Domingos Fernandes fired a nice cross in from the right and Obaid Al Taweela covered for the cross. An unmarked Maeco Antonio headed it home.

UAE, who couldn’t penetrate the Angola defence relied on long balls and their best chances were through freekicks. In the 25^th minute, Subait Khater, who shone during the friendly against Chile, fired his long ranger over the cross bar.

UAE coach brought in Faisal Khalil in place of Ahmed Khamis at the start of the second half. Angola had a chance to double the lead after the break but Massunguna Afonso’s header just whizzed over the cross bar off a Ricardo Job corner.

Katanec brought in Khalid Sabeel for Fawzi Fayez in the 65^th minute and Faris Juma came in for Mohammed Abdulrahman in the 79^th minute.

Angola’s goal scorer Maeco Antonio came off in the 78^th minute to make way for Alfredo Calunganga.

Angola added the second through substitute Dorivaldo Dias, who headed into an empty goal, with two minutes left for the final whistle.

teams:

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

Angola: Wilson Alegre, Domingos Fernandes, Carlos Alonso, Amandio Costa, Adawa Mokanga, Massunguna Afonso, Wilson Macano, Osorio Caravlho, Celso Costa, Maeco Antonio, Regio Zalata. Substitutes: Neblu, Fernando Costa, Ricardo Job, Miguel Quiame, Bernando Silva, Kuya Joao, Fabricio Mafuta, Dorivaldo Dias, Alfredo Calunganga. Coach: Jose Amaral.

james@khaleejtimes.com