It was Chennai's fifth win from nine matches as they moved to third place in the points table with 10 points
Khalil's wonder strike in the 20th minute and a Panenka penalty in the 54th saw the UAE dream of a World Cup berth since 1990 get a big booster. The match was a brilliant team effort with the Great Wall of the UAE defence thwarting the barrage of Samurai intrusions in the final half hour. It was a nail biting finish to the proceedings and keeper Khalid Eisa was a busy body. The defiant Emirati defence fought fire with fire and ensured the team down Japan for the first time in the Cup qualifiers. Coach Mahdi Ali will be a relived man with this win.
For Khalil, this is his No. 13 on the Road to Moscow 2018. And for the record, Khalil 20th minute stunner was the first goal conceded by the Japanese defence in the World Cup qualifiers. The Japanese defence had stood resolute for 740 minutes but it took an Emirati just 20 minutes to blow it apart.
The day started with the 'Samurai Blue' controlling possession. And in the 11th minute Keisuke Honda drew the first blood. Honda leapt over all to connect a free kick with a header that saw the ball bounce off the ground into the net.
- HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) September 1, 2016
Maya Yoshida brought down Ali Mabkhout and it resulted in a free kick. Khalil curled in a set piece kick that Nishikawa couldn't reach despite getting fingertips to it. The UAE were breathing fire from here on. Playmaker Omar Abdulrahman tested Shusaku Nishikawa with a long ranger but went wide. Half time 1-1.
The second 45 started with Japan pressing forward in hordes. Ryota Oshima's thunderous shot was well saved by Eisa. It was end-to-end stuff, tackles were rising and referee was busy distributing yellow cards. It was a challenge made on Ismail Alhammadi by Ryota Ohshima that saw referee award a penalty. Khalil steeped in with expectations of an entire nation behind him. It was nerves of steel to take a Panenka penalty at such an occasion. And as Nishikawa dived the wrong way, the capacity stadium was dead silent. But the UAE erupted in joy.
It was Chennai's fifth win from nine matches as they moved to third place in the points table with 10 points
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