Mabkhout scores as UAE edge past Uzbekistan

An early goal from Ali Mabkhout was enough for the UAE to beat Uzbekistan in the second friendly match to be played at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Tuesday.

There were changes to the team composition made by new coach Alberto Zaccheroni and the experiments worked on the night for the UAE. Striker Mabkhout, making a return to the team, scored a sublime goal to hand Zaccheroni his first victory at the helm of affairs.

In the first friendly match against Haiti on Friday, it was the first 25 minutes that had worried Zaccheroni. However on Tuesday, the problem was mostly addressed as the UAE went up in 15 minutes and in style.

Midfielder Amer Abdulrahman, at the centre with the ball, saw Mabkhout in a great advancing position. And the Al Jazira frontman finished the job with a cool finish past keeper Ignatiy Nesterov. The ease with which Mabkhout negated the keeper and the defence was a pleasing sight as chances from similar situation were not converted against Haiti.

The UAE could have doubled the advantage after just eight minutes but the Omar Abdulrahman-Mabkhout combination failed to click. On one occasion, Mohammed Fawzi was in a good position to score but the midfield deliveries didn't yield a goal. And just before the half-time, Uzbekistan's Marat Bikmaev, in the box, almost scored an equaliser.

After the break, both sides continued their offensive forays.

Bikmaev continued to pose questions. In between, Otabek Shukurov threatened with a long volley, which warmed up keeper Khalid Eisa. The UAE defence unit of Mohanad Salem, Mahmoud Khamees and Co did well to keep the Uzbeks at bay.

The UAE were a delight to watch whenever they attacked. There was greater cohesion and in 62 minutes, Mabkhout's long-range effort was denied only by an athletic effort from Nesterov.

The match headed for a nervous finish with a close-effort from Bikmaev and a goal-bound free-kick only to be cleared by an alert Eisa. And the visitors did sneak one into the net but was ruled off-side.

Three minutes of added time was full of action too. And in an ensuing challenge Mohammed Ahmad was shown a red card. Uzbekistan tried till the last minute but couldn't net an equaliser.

The UAE were effective on the night and had a game plan. Zaccheroni, in only his second outing, has made a positive impression.

Source: Khaleej Times