The UAE nationwide soccer staff continued to drop factors within the first group of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, dropping 1-0 to host Uzbekistan. The one aim was scored by former Sharjah participant Shukurov from a penalty kick within the 76th minute at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, throughout the fourth spherical match. The UAE performed with ten males from the 66th minute after a direct purple card was given to Abdullah Hamad.
With this win, Uzbekistan raised their tally to 10 factors, whereas the UAE remained at 4 factors. Kyrgyzstan earned their first 3 factors, and North Korea’s complete froze at 2 factors after Kyrgyzstan’s first group victory at this time, defeating North Korea 1-0. This win moved Kyrgyzstan to fifth place forward of their upcoming match in opposition to the UAE on November 14 in Al Ain. On the identical date, Qatar will face Uzbekistan, and North Korea will play in opposition to Iran.
The UAE staff utilized early stress on their opponent, whereas Uzbekistan tried to construct fast assaults from the flanks. Within the early minutes, Uzbekistan appeared harmful, particularly on the suitable facet. Harib Abdullah fired a weak shot into the arms of the goalkeeper within the eighth minute, marking the UAE’s first try following a person effort below stress from defenders. Two minutes later, Caio Canedo fired a powerful shot, however the Uzbekistan goalkeeper saved it.
The UAE’s hazard grew to become evident by urgent the ball service within the opponent’s half, efficiently halting Uzbekistan’s assaults. Actions from Harib and Yahya Al-Ghassani troubled the opposing protection, with Al-Ghassani stealing the ball within the twelfth minute and taking pictures simply extensive. Uzbekistan’s Eldor missed their greatest likelihood within the twenty sixth minute with a fast header that went previous the UAE keeper Khalid Essa’s left put up.
Khalid Essa saved his aim from a powerful shot within the thirty first minute after an Uzbek counterattack, whereas Al-Ghassani’s weak shot was simply saved within the thirty fourth minute. Eldor chested the ball and tried a bicycle kick that went over the bar within the forty fourth minute. Shukurov’s header was simply caught by Khalid Essa within the forty fifth minute, and the primary half ended goalless.
The UAE began the second half strongly, forcing a troublesome save from Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper within the forty seventh minute. Harib went one-on-one within the forty ninth minute however lobbed the ball over the crossbar. Azizbek’s floor shot narrowly missed the UAE’s proper put up within the 58th minute. The UAE staff performed with ten males after Abdullah Hamad was proven a direct purple card within the 66th minute.
The referee awarded a penalty to Uzbekistan after a handball by UAE’s Khalifa Al Hammadi, which Shukurov transformed, hitting the left put up and bouncing into the web to provide Uzbekistan the lead within the 76th minute. Uzbekistan dominated the closing minutes, capitalizing on the UAE’s numerical drawback. UAE coach Paulo Bento’s substitutions didn’t ship the required attacking enchancment, and the UAE misplaced one other three essential factors on their path to the 2026 World Cup.
In the identical spherical of qualifiers, Australia ended Japan’s successful streak with a 1-1 attract Group C. China secured their first win, defeating Indonesia 2-1. Australia moved to five factors, whereas Japan maintained their group lead with 10 factors. China now has 3 factors, tied with Indonesia, who suffered their first loss within the group. In the meantime, Iraq misplaced 2-3 to South Korea in Group B, with South Korea main the group with 10 factors and Iraq remaining on 7 factors.
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