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The UAE Olympic Team hold Australia to goalless draw

The UAE Football Olympic Team snatched a valuable point when they held their Australian counterparts to a goalless draw in the first match of Group "B" of the final Asian qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics played this afternoon Wednesday, September 21st at Hind Marsh stadium in the Australian city of Adelaide. The visiting team looked the most dangerous side after squandering a number of scoring chances through the entire time of the game.

UAE Team's coach Mahdi Ali started match with a line up including: Ahmed Mahmoud as goalkeeper, Abdulaziz Hussain, Saad Suroor, Mohammad Ahmed, Abdul Aziz Sanghoor in defense line, Mohammad Fawzi, Amer Abdul Rahman, Habeeb Al Fardan and Diyab Awana for the midfield zone, Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout spearheading the offensive line. They demonstrated a balanced display in the offense and defense lines from the word go. The midfielders exerted more efforts supplying the front liners with a number of balls that resulted in many opportunities but all the work was in vain. Ahmad Khalil came close to score an early goal but his rocket-like volley missed the target in the 32nd minute. His teammate Ali Mabkhout lost a valuable chance in the last minute of the first session when he was put free off a defensive error with only the goalkeeper to beat, but due to his slowness, the Australia defender successeded to send the ball for a corner.

The strong Australia players threatened the UAE's custodian Ahmad Mahmoud who played brilliantly and saved his goal in many occasions. The defenders were also in a good condition in spite of the absence of their best colleague Hamdan Al Kamaly due to injury.

The two teams made some good efforts after the break, but the UAE team players were more dangerous on the Australian goal. The visitors lost another sitter in the 65th minute when Ahmad Khalil faced their rivals' goalie from the left flank who saved his shot bravely before a defender cleared the ball away.

The Australian squad pressed hard in the last minutes of the game but their UAE contenders stood solid on their way and spoiled all their attempts to end the tie with a goalless draw and come back home with a valuable point.

The UAE team will face Uzbekistan in the second match scheduled for November 23rd.