UNITED Arab Emirates narrowly earned their place in the final round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup despite losing 3-1 at home to Syria on Sunday.
Syria needed to win by three clear goals to progress at the expense of UAE and claim second place in Group Five.
The visitors made the ideal start after a brace by Jihad Al Hussain but Ismail Matar converted a crucial penalty kick for the Emirates in the 77th minute and though Syria added a third through Firas Al Khatib in stoppage time it was not enough to send them through.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Sanharib Malki broke into the UAE box from the left before passing to Al Hussain, who scored with a first time effort.
Syria pressed forward in search of a second and it duly arrived in the 40th minute when Al Hussain broke down the right before despatching a powerful shot beyond Majed Nasser.
UAE nearly pulled a goal back on the hour mark when Mohammed Al Shehhi headed wide but the home side grabbed a crucial goal with just 13 minutes remaining when Matar scored from the penalty spot after Syria goalkeeper Mosab Balhous brought down Ismail Al Hammadi.
The Emirates nearly levelled the scores when Basheer Saeed's powerful free-kick was saved by Balhous in the 83rd minute while Raja Rafe nearly added a third for Syria but his header went just over the crossbar with two minutes remaining.
Syria managed to grab a third in the seventh minute of stoppage time when Rafe flicked a header on for Al Khatib to score from close range. But it proved too little too late as UAE progressed on goal difference.
The visitors made the ideal start after a brace by Jihad Al Hussain but Ismail Matar converted a crucial penalty kick for the Emirates in the 77th minute and though Syria added a third through Firas Al Khatib in stoppage time it was not enough to send them through.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Sanharib Malki broke into the UAE box from the left before passing to Al Hussain, who scored with a first time effort.
Syria pressed forward in search of a second and it duly arrived in the 40th minute when Al Hussain broke down the right before despatching a powerful shot beyond Majed Nasser.
UAE nearly pulled a goal back on the hour mark when Mohammed Al Shehhi headed wide but the home side grabbed a crucial goal with just 13 minutes remaining when Matar scored from the penalty spot after Syria goalkeeper Mosab Balhous brought down Ismail Al Hammadi.
The Emirates nearly levelled the scores when Basheer Saeed's powerful free-kick was saved by Balhous in the 83rd minute while Raja Rafe nearly added a third for Syria but his header went just over the crossbar with two minutes remaining.
Syria managed to grab a third in the seventh minute of stoppage time when Rafe flicked a header on for Al Khatib to score from close range. But it proved too little too late as UAE progressed on goal difference.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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