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UAE Olympic Team beat Australians with a lone goal

With a solitary goal scored by midfielder Omar Abdul Rahman, the UAE Olympic Football Team defeated the visiting team Australia in the match held this evening at Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi within the Asian  2012 London Olympic qualifiers  to snatch three invaluable points. The winners raised their tally to 11 points to stay on top of the table of Group "B" and they are left with one game against Uzbekistan which is due to kick off on Wednesday, March 14 2012 and a draw will secure them a berth and help them to qualify to London Olympics.

The Australian team took the initiative making some good attempts with all the hope to surprise the hosts with an early goal in the opening minutes, but the UAE defenders stood solid on their way and spoiled all their attempts. The UAE players made some nice efforts but could not reach the visitors' goal. The Australian striker Aaron Mooy came close to put his side into the lead when he sent a strong volley which was saved bravely by the goal keeper Khalid Essa in the 15th minutes.

The same Australian front liner missed another sitter when he received a lovely pass inside the six yard area and his severe shot was blocked by the UAE custodian.

Ahmed Khalil replied with a dangerous shot off a stand ball that tipped by the Australian goalie before being cleared away by a defender in the 22nd minute. But Omar Abdul Rahman compensated for the lost chance with a strong left footer that could not be saved by the goalie to give his side a deserved 1-0 lead only one minute later.

Inspired by this goal, the UAE players tried their best to add the second goal while the Australians made every bit of effort to level the score, but all their work was in vain. The cross bar deprived the visiting team from reducing the deficit in the 40th minute  and the rebounded  ball returned to the Australian player Mate Dud Anic who tried to head it home, but Khalid Essa saved brilliantly to end the first session with a lone goal for UAE.

The two teams demonstrated a balance performance after the break but things remained the same and yet no dangerous attacks were created from both sides. The UAE coach Mahdi Ali pulled out Ahmed Ali in the 64th minute to field in Haboosh Saleh. Haboosh was almost to net the second goal, but this shot was deflected by a defender before being controlled by the goalkeeper in the 68th minute.

Most of the UAE players returned to their back line in the last 20 minutes to defend their lone goal and this gave the visiting squad a golden chance to put more pressure on the UAE defense but they lost all the opportunities they created through the last minutes and the hosts were able to defend bravely and come out with full points.