Today's Edition
TAARIQ HALIM (ALETIHAD)
The UAE national football team kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 by beating North Korea 2-1 in dramatic fashion in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night.
The UAE left it until the 98th minute of a frustrating clash when Sultan Adil's header secured the three precious points needed to keep them in the hunt in Group A of the Asia qualifiers.
Tuesday's results see the UAE, in third place on 13 points, remain in contention for the top two qualifying spots in the group, with two must-win matches still to play.
Group leaders Iran, on 20 points, became the second nation - after Japan - to book their place in the Finals after drawing against Uzbekistan on the night.
The UAE had been favourites to get the job done in Riyadh but made heavy weather of the task against the group's bottom side.
Fabio Lima got the UAE off to a flyer in the 5th minute, firing home from inside the six-yard box, but allowed Kim Yu-Song to head in the equaliser from a corner in the 43rd - before match-winner Adil's heroics deep into injury time.
In Tehran, Iran were also made to fight for a 2-2 draw against second-placed Uzbekistan, on 17 points. Mehdi Taremi's brace sealed the home side's seventh qualification for the tournament.
Paulo Bento's UAE side will need to take this never-say-die attitude into the final round of matches on June 5 against Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan on June 10.
They will also hope that Uzbekistan drop points in their final game against fourth-placed Qatar, who went down 1-3 to fifth-placed Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday after their goalscorer, Lucas Mendes, was sent off in the 55th minute.
