Players.bio is a large online platform sharing the best live coverage of your favourite sports: Football, Golf, Rugby, Cricket, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA, plus the latest sports news, transfers & scores. Exclusive interviews, fresh photos and videos, breaking news. Stay tuned to know everything you wish about your favorite stars 24/7. Check our daily updates and make sure you don't miss anything about celebrities' lives.
DUBAI: The dust has just about settled on Asian qualification, where the road to Qatar was the longest. Five Arab nations made the final 12 that contested the third round. It was not unexpected that the only one to secure an automatic berth was Saudi Arabia. The other five have plenty to take on board and think about in the coming months.
By any means possible. That was the message with which coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena signed off his pre-match press briefing ahead of the UAE’s daunting assignment with unbeaten South Korea.
HONG KONG :The United Arab Emirates handed South Korea a surprise 1-0 defeat in Dubai on Tuesday to set up a playoff clash with Australia as they kept alive their hopes of a first World Cup appearance in 32 years.
In the end, it was comfortable. Three clear points between the UAE in third and Iraq in fourth, plus a goal difference so substantial that it essentially amounted to another point besides.
Hareb Abdalla's 54th minute goal sealed a third place finish in Group A for Rodolfo Arruabarrena's side, ensuring the UAE will take on the Socceroos in a one-off meeting in Doha on June 7. The winner of that match with then face the fifth-placed team in the South American qualifiers with a berth in the finals in Qatar at stake. Abdalla struck against the run of play for the Emiratis, who were facing a Korean side that had not conceded a goal in their previous five qualifiers and were looking for a victory that would secure them top spot in Group A.
The UAE insist they can keep alive their chances of making it to the World Cup by inflicting defeat on unbeaten South Korea on Tuesday night – but acknowledge they will need the backing of fervent home support to make it happen.
There is good and bad news for the UAE ahead of their final, must-win World Cup qualifier against South Korea in Dubai on Tuesday.
The UAE had been provided a huge hand-up, or so it seemed.