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The UAE Under -16 team loses chance to qualify to World finals

The UAE Under -16 Football squad lost their chance to qualify to the 2011 FiFA Under -17 World Cup due to be organized in Mexico following a 2-3 defeat to Australia today afternoon in the quarter-finals of the Asian Championship currently held in Uzbekistan. The Australians have also booked their seat in the finals of the Asian event after emerging one of the best four teams in this championship. With this surprising victory the Australians have avenged their loss by the UAE before two years in a game played in the same stage and at the same pitch. That win helped the UAE team to qualify to the finals hosted by Nigeria in 2009.

The winners came from behind to surprise their rivals scoring two successive goals in 11 minutes and added the winner in the extra time after the two teams were tied to a 2-2 draw by the end of the official time.

Yousuf Saeed of the UAE team was the first to find the back of the net when he scored only 18 minutes from the word go. This early lead helped the UAE players to control the match and put more pressure on their opponents' defense and their efforts were rewarded in the last minute of the first half when Abdullah Mousa made it 2-0.

The Australians exerted more efforts after the break looking to reduce the deficit but all their work was in vain. They continued their attempts in the last 10 minutes for Corey Edward Brown pulled one back to make it 2-1 eight minutes before the final whistle and his teammate Giancarlo Gallifuoco slamed the equalizer in the last minute to level the score and take the game into the extra time. Jesse Makarounas from Australian successeded in scoring the third goal in the 99th minute to secure the result for his side in spite of the big number of raids launched by the UAE players.