Off the wire
• China, Kenya pledge to deepen ties, cooperation  • Results of the United Arab Emirates vs Qatar at Asian Cup  • Chinese carrier mulls charter flights to Bahamas  • Chinese FM to visit Sudan for brokering peace in South Sudan  • 1st LD-Writethru: Service module of China's lunar orbiter enters moon's orbit  • Qatar holds the United Arab Emirates 1-1 at half time  • Results of 1500m in ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating 2014/15  • Defense Minister stresses improved ability to ensure stability in Xinjiang  • Results of 500m in Asian Single Distances Speed Skating Competition 2015  • Newly-elected Sri Lankan president to make first trip to India  
You are here: 　 Home

UAE smash Qatar 4-1 in their Asian Cup' s opener

Xinhua, January 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United Arab Emirates defeated Qatar 4-1 in Group C opener at the AFC Asian Cup here on Sunday.

The two teams are familiar with each other, and they tried to score from the beginning. Although the United Arab Emirates gained an early upper hand in the game, it was Qatar who opened the scoring.

In the 22nd minute, Mohammed Muntari received a pass from Haydos and tried to flick over the goalkeeper, which was palmed away. Khalfan Ibarahim got the rebound and volleyed home.

Just 15 minutes later, the UAE seized the equalizer. Omar Abdulrahman, known as the Gulf Messi, made chaos in Qatar's box and Ahmed Khalil's strong header was blocked by Qatari goalkeeper. But Khalil managed to chest the rebound into the net to tie the match at 1-1.

Khalil scored a goal in the 51st minute to put the UAE 2-1 ahead. Just 4 minutes later, UAE enlarged its advantage through Khamis Esmaeel as his free kick was blocked by the goalkeeper Qasem Burhan. Ali Ahmed Mabkhout slotted it into the net.

Before the final whistle, Mabkhout locked the score to 4-1. The 24-year-old has scored 7 goals since the Asian Cup' s qualification to top the players all over the Asia.

What' s more, Mabkhout was also the top goal scorer in the recent 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations, with five goals for the United Arab Emirates.

The United Arab Emirates were still unbeaten since the qualification, it won five and drew one of their six qualifying games.

As the winners of 2014 Gulf Cup, Qatar can' t stop the tragedy from replaying. The two teams met in the 2007 Asian Cup group stage with UAE turning out the 2-1 winners. Endi