Group C: UAE 4-1 Qatar

AFC Asian Cup – CANBERRA, A brace each from forwards Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout gave the United Arab Emirates a comprehensive 4-1 win over Gulf Cup champions Qatar in their AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 Group C opener at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

Two-time quarter-finalists Qatar took the lead courtesy of Khalfan Ibrahim’s 22nd minute chipped effort, but the scores were levelled on 36 minutes by former AFC Youth Player of the Year Khalil from close range.

And set-pieces in the second half were to prove Qatar’s undoing as first Khalil on 51 minutes and then Mabkhout on 56 minutes profited from dead-ball situations, before Mabkhout got his second in the dying minutes of the game to help the UAE into the all-important knockout stage qualification spots in the opening round of Group C games.

An even opening spell in Australia’s capital saw two teams intent on attack and inside the first 10 minutes there was goalmouth action at either end of the field as Khalil and Mabkhout both saw efforts ruffle the side-netting, while Qatari defender Abdelaziz Hatem had a dangerous cross turned way at the back post by Mohamed Abdulrahman.

With such an open game in the making, it was no surprise that the first goal came not long after as Majed Naser could only push out Mohammed Muntari’s close range effort as far as former AFC Player of the Year Ibrahim who controlled the ball on his chest before delicately sending a flying volley over both the stranded goalkeeper and Mohanad Al Enezi on the line.

Khalil went close to drawing the UAE back within three minutes, though, as his downward header demanded a sprawling save from Qasem Burhan in the Qatar goal, flicking the ball around his own post.

At the other end, Abdelkarim Hassan almost extended the lead with a driving shot from distance into the side-netting, but with nine minutes of the half remaining the Emirates had drawn level.

Burhan came and failed to collect, and Abdulaziz Sanqour whipped the ball across goal where Khalil’s header was blocked back to him by Ibrahim Majed on the line and rebounded in off the Emirati forward’s chest.

Qatar coach Djamel Belmadi brought on 2014 WAFF Championship top scorer Boualem Khouki after the break to add some cutting edge to his attack but just six minutes after the re-start it was the UAE who went ahead for the first time in the match.

The goal came from the boot of Khalil, who had threatened for much of the first period, taking full advantage from a dangerous set-piece on the corner of the penalty area to loop his free kick into the far corner of the goal.

And just five minutes later the UAE profited again from a dead-ball situation. This time Khamis Esmaeel’s on-target free kick was fumbled by Burhan and Mabkhout was first on the scene to follow up and drill the ball home.

Forwards Ismail Mohamad and Meshal Adulla entered the fray after the hour mark to try and reduce the deficit for Qatar, and the former went closest, forcing Naser into a flying block at his near post.

The Emirati custodian almost inadvertently gave Qatar a way back in with five minutes remaining as he turned Hassan’s near post shot onto his own upright but Mabkhout then put the game beyond doubt on the 90th minute as he combined with Omar Abdulrahman to rifle home from six yards.