ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The youth national team rallied to trump a strong Jordan side 2-1 in the semi-finals of the Under-19 West Asia Football Federation championship in the Saudi Arabian city of Taif on Wednesday with a brace from Eid Al Hammadi doing the star turn.
After a goalless first half, Jordan took the lead immediately at the restart with Ibrahim Sabra finding the net past UAE goalkeeper Ali Al Saffar.
That served as a wake-up call for Abyad Al Shabab, and rising to the occasion came the No. 10 Eid Al Hammadi. The attacking midfielder found the equaliser in the 58th minute, and then again 21 minutes later with the UAE then holding on to the lead to enter the final.
Salem Abdel Rahman’s boys now await the winner of the other semi-final between Saudi Arabia and Syria.
The 12-team tournament was divided into three groups with the toppers of each group and a best second-placed team – Syria – making it to the last four.