Birthday-boy Ueda spoils UAE's party

The UAE's Zayed Al Ameri (left) takes a shot while Japan's Reo Hatate looks on during the men's football semifinal at the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Wednesday. -Supplied photo

There couldn't have been a better contrast of emotions as celebrations continued for Japan and birthday-boy Ayase Ueda, while it spelt the end of the road for the UAE.
The UAE Olympic team couldn't provide the soothing balm to the hurt and pain of 2010, going down to Japan in the semifinal of the men's football competition at the Asian Games on Wednesday.
Eight years on after seeing their predecessors lose to the same opponents by a solitary goal at the 2010 Asiad in Guangzhou, China, the current team went down by the same margin at the Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, Indonesia. Substitute Ueda, who turned 20 on Tuesday, struck the match winner on 78 minutes to put a cruel end to the UAE's hopes of a revenge.
And while that 2010 defeat had come in the final, with the UAE getting the silver, this team will have to settle for a bronze, at the least. The Young Whites will take on Vietnam in the bronze medal match at the Pakansari Stadium on Saturday.
Japan run into South Korea, who will be eyeing a fifth football title at the Asian Games after 1970, 1978, 1986 and 2014, in the final, also on Saturday.
It may have been a disappointing end for the UAE Olympic team after having come so close but coach Maciej Skorza and his lads can be proud of what they had achieved so far. They had to overcome the unwanted distraction of a scuffle during a friendly against Malaysia in the run-up to the competition and then saw through a slow start in the group stage to make their presence felt over the course of the tournament.
The UAE Olympic team had done well in the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals, coming through against Indonesia and North Korea respectively after extra time and penalties.
And despite those excruciating bouts of extra time, the UAE did remarkably well, keeping the speedy Japanese at bay for most part of the game. The UAE also had a fair share of opportunities to have their say over the course of the proceedings.
But that was until 12 minutes were left to play out. Midfielder Kouta Watanabe sent a fine through and striker Ueda, who had come on for Reo Hatate on 64 minutes, fired it past UAE shot stopper Mohamed Al Shamsi.
Earlier, the UAE had started well with Rashed Musabbah and Mohamad Al Attas coming close in the opening minutes. Both Musabbah and Al Attas saw their freekicks saved by goalkeeper and captain Ryosuke Kojima.
Japan went on the offensive with Yuto Iwasaki, Hatate and Watanabe having chances but the trio missed the target. They came close to breaking the stalemate on 37 minutes but midfielder Daizen Maeda was denied by the young Al Shamsi. The 21-year-old was called into action once again on 43 minutes and the Al Wahda shot stopper pulled off a brilliant save to thwart midfielder Yuto Iwasaki.
The UAE had their say in the one minute of added time with Ali Al Yahyaee missing the target.
Musabbah and Al Attas renewed their tussle with Kojima in the second half but it was the Japanese captain who won the contests, repelling both.
But once Ueda struck, the UAE found it tough to find a way past Japan.
Meanwhile, Lee Seung-woo fired a brace as South Korea beat Vietnam 3-1 in the other semifinal.
james@khaleejtimes.com