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UAE lose 2/3 to Kuwait in their first Asian qualifications match

The UAE National Football Team lost their first Asian match 2/3 to their counterpart Kuwaiti in the third stage qualifiers to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The game was held this evening at Tahnoon Bin Mohammad Stadium in Qattara amid a big mass of spectators. The two teams are classified in Group B alongside with South Korea and Lebanon, who also played in the same night; the Koreans managed to beat the visiting team 6-0

The Kuwaiti team finished the first half leading with a lone goal netted by striker Yousuf Nasser eight minutes into the match and the goal was an outcome of an organized attack. Yousuf received the ball inside the box before sending a strong volley that deflected by defender Hamdan Al Kamali into the net over goalkeeper Majid Nasser.

Inspired by this early goal, the Kuwaiti players retreated back to reserve their lead depending on counter attacks. The UAE team dominated the game but they did not succeed to score after their opponents' defense players stood solid on their way and closed all the gaps that could lead to their goal. They marked UAE striker Ahmed Khalil tightly who was denied access to the goalkeeper Nawaf Al Khaldi.

The Slovenian Katanec, coach of UAE National Team started the game with Majid Nasser as goalkeeper, Khalid Sabeel, Hamdan Al Kamali, Walid Abbas, Yousuf Jaber  in defense line,  Ali Al Wihaibi, Amer Abdul Rahman, Subait Khatir and Ismail Al Hammadi in midfield and Ahmad Khalil along with Mohammad Al Shehhy spearheading the offensive line. He made three substitutions in the second half bringing on Salem Saleh, Mahmoud Khamis and Amer Mubarak to replace Ali Al Wihabi, Mohammad Al-Shehhy and Amer Abdul Rahman.
Nasser Yousuf was almost added a second to Kuwait in the 37th minute when he played the ball over the advancing goalkeeper Majid Nasser but defender Walid Abbas cleared the ball away before it crosses the goal line. The upright post deprived the Kuwaitis from a third goal when Fahad Al enzi sent a severe shot one minute before the end of the first session

The Kuwaiti midfielder Badr Al Mutawah scored the second goal after only five minutes from the start of the second half to complicate things for UAE National Team. Goalie Majid Nasser was near to concede a third goal in the 54th minute, but he saved bravely. Nasser Yousuf compensated afterwards the lost opportunity to add the third goal in the 65th minute, taking an advantage off the error committed by defender Yousuf Jaber, who returned a short ball to the goalkeeper Majid.

The UAE squad tried to reduce the deficit and their efforts were soon rewarded when Ismail Al Hammadi netted the first goal in the 84th minute and Ahmad Khalil added the second with a perfect header one minute before the end of the original time to end the match with 3-2 victory for Kuwait