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UAE too good for Kuwait

The National team gave the UAE a perfect gift ahead of Eid-Al-Fitr by conjuring an impressive 3-0 win over Kuwait in an international football friendly at Al Wahda’s Al Nahyan Stadium.

Young striker Ahmed Khalil scored in the 23^rd minute, while the experienced Ismail Matar added the second in the 41^st minute.

Substitute Saeed Al Kuthairi rounded it off in injury time. It was a good work out for UAE, ranked 90 in the world, as they put in a stellar show against Kuwait, who are ranked 85.

The friendly game is 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.

It was Srecko Katanec’s men all the way barring a couple of chances which Kuwait mustered, though they were nothing to write home about.

UAE had an opportunity to go ahead as early as the seventh minute but captain Subait Khater’s freekick just went wide of the right post.

Kuwait had a chance in the 18^th minute but midfielder Bader Al Mutwa’s shot went over the bar after a move from the left flank.

UAE’s kept up the pressure on Kuwait and it paid off with Ahmed Khalil putting them ahead in the 23^rd minute.

The 19-year-old Khalil, who was the 2008 Asian Youth Player of the Year, broke the offside trap after an Amer Abdul Rahman pass and made his way through with a defender tailing him. Khalil, who was the top scorer in the Under-23 Gulf Cup which the UAE won in Qatar, the chipped it home with his left-foot.

Meanwhile, the experienced Ismail Matar, who scored five goals in five games as the UAE won the Gulf Cup in 2007, looked menacing throughout the game and gave the Kuwait defenders a hard time.

And the inspirational Matar added a second for the UAE in the 41^st minute. Khalid Sabeel sent a fine cross in which was met by Ismail Matar.

The 27-year-old was quicker to the ball than the two Kuwait defenders but his first attempt was blocked by the goalkeeper Nawaf Al Khaldi. But Matar made no mistake second time around, tapping in the rebound.

Matar could have scored his second five minutes after the restart but his shot went over the bar. UAE Under-20 captain Hamdan Al Kamali suffered an injury and was substituted in the 52^nd minute.

Both teams made an array of substitutions and UAE coach Katanec brought in Sultan Bargash Al Menhali for Mohammed Al Shehi.

Saeed Al Kuthairi came in for Ahmed Khalil while Amer Abdul Rehman made way for Amer Mubarak.

Substitute Saeed Al Kuthairi could have added the third in the 90^th minute but his threatening header, off an Ali Al Wehaibi cross from the right, was punched away by goalkeeper Nawaf Al Khaldi.

But Kuthairi made no mistake in injury time, sending in a superb back heel home off a substitute Theyab Awana pass.

UAE squad: Majid Nasser and Sami Rabie (Al Wasl), Ali Khusaif, Salem Masoud, Khaled Sabeel, Abdullah Mosa, Subait Khater (Al Jazira), Ali Al Weihibi (Al Ain), Yousuf Jaber, Zeyab Awana, Amer Abdul Rahman, Sultan Al Ghafiri (Bani Yas), Hamdan Al Kamali, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Al Shehhi, Saeed Al Kathiri, Ismail Matar, Adel Al Hosani (Al Wahda), Ahmed Khalil (Al Ahli), Waleed Abbas (Al Shabab), Amer Mubarak Ghanim (Al Nasr).

james@khaleejtimes.com