Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The UAE’s young Whites were held to a 1-1 stalemate by 10-man Costa Rica in their FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 Group C opener on Monday.
Mayed Adel had given the Emiratis the lead in the 59th minute but Nick Bennete struck three minutes later for Costa Rica, who had been reduced to 10 players in the first half.
The game sparked into life just after the half-hour mark, as Isaac Badilla was sent off for a last-player tackle on Faysal Mohammed. UAE made use of their numerical advantage shortly after the break, with Adel bundling home a corner.
That lead lasted barely three minutes, though, with Yerlan Sosa’s cross causing chaos in the UAE box allowing Bennette to slot in from just beyond the penalty spot.
Majed Salem could only watch from the sidelines as the Whites came close on many times with scoring chances but players such as Adel, Faysal Mohamed and substitute Eisa Alblooshi spurned them with some wayward shooting.
Their opponents also closed ranks with some heavy marking of Adel, the main threat, while overseas playing talent Jayden Adetiba had to be substituted at the 75th minute mark after an energy-sapping early start when the match kicked off at 4.30pm at the Aspire Academy pitch in the Doha suburb of Al Rayyan.
UAE will need to make hay while it shines when they next play Croatia on Thursday, while Costa Rica meet Senegal.
