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UAE take on hosts India tomorrow in the second leg encounter

 

The UAE National Football Team are set to take on their counterpart India in the Asian qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in their away match to be played on Thursday July 28th at 5:30pm, UAE timing, at Nehru Stadium in the Indian capital New Delhi.

The visitors, who arrived in Delhi yesterday, inspire to repeat their 3-0 first leg victory over their opponents which was played last Saturday at Khalifa Stadium in Al Ain. Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammad Al Shehhy and Ismail Al Hamadi scored the three goals in the first match as the losers played 67 minutes with two men less after their defender Debrata Roy and his teammate goalkeeper Subrata Paul were shown the red card in the first 25 minutes. A draw or even a loss with a 0-2 result in tomorrow's tie is enough to secure the UAE side a berth in the third round of the Asian competitions.

The visiting team conducted their main training session yesterday at the match pitch for one hour under the supervision of their Slovenian coach Katanec and his assisting body with the participation of all players. The training was followed by Indian media and a big mass of Indian fans who asked to see UAE's striker Dhiyab Awana who scored a penalty kick with his back heel in a friendly game against Lebanon.

Katanec is likely to field the same lineup who faced India in the home game which included: goalkeeper Ali Khusaif, Hamdan Al Kamali, Waleed Abbas, Yousuf Jaber, Mohammad Ahmad Ghareeb, Amer Abdul Rahman, Amer Mubarak, Mohammad Al Shehhy, Ali Al Wihaibi, Ismail Al Hammadi and Ahmad Khalil. The coach was keen enough to correct all the errors the players had committed in their home game in Al Ain especially the squandering of scoring chances in front of the goal mouth which was due to lack of concentration.

Referees from Singapore will officiate the match including referee Basheir Abdul Malik and his assistants Tang Yomon (first assistant), Wali Chezo (second assistant), and Liu Tiham fourth referee.

On the other hand the UAE mission is due to fly directly after the match and expected to arrive to Dubai International Air Port on Friday at 6am.