Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Yahya Al Ghassani scored two goals for the UAE in as many minutes to initiate a 3-1 victory over 10-man Kuwait and seal passage into the FIFA Arab Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.
They still needed Jordan, against whom they lost the opening game of Group C, to beat Egypt. And Jordan did it convincingly by a 3-0 margin. The result left UAE as the second-best team with four points against toppers Jordan while Kuwait ended with the wooden spoon.
UAE's fate was not in their hands, but they knew they needed at least a victory to reach the knockout stages. They got off to the brightest of starts when they were awarded a penalty in the 16th minute after Ahmad Aldhefeery brought down Al Ghassani, who calmly converted his spot kick.
Just two minutes later, Al Ghassani found the net again after Kuwait lost possession near their goal and, after some neat passing play, the 27-year-old winger slotted home in style.
Kuwait's hopes of a comeback suffered a serious setback early in the second half when Sultan Al Enezi was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Al Ghassani. Despite being a man down, they gave themselves hope when Fahed Al Hajri headed in a deep inswinging free-kick from Mohammad Daham.
UAE, however, quickly capitalised on their numerical advantage to retake the lead in style in the 66th minute when Nicolas Gimenez struck an emphatic effort from the edge of the area in one of the best goals of the tournament so far.
In the other group game, Jordan grabbed the lead in the 19th minute when a slick move down the right flank ended with the ball breaking somewhat fortuitously to the onrushing Mohammad Abuhasheesh in the box and he calmly slotted beyond Mohamed Bassam.
Jamal Sellami's World Cup-bound side doubled their lead four minutes before the interval as Mohammad Abu Zraiq cut inside a defender on the right of the box before curling a sublime effort beyond the diving Bassam.
Jordan sealed their victory in added time, when defender Yassin Marei's last-ditch sliding tackle only succeeded in felling substitute Ali Olwan, who stepped up to score from the spot.
