UAE Olympic team go down fighting to Syria

UAE's Ahmed Al Ghelani (centre), tries to get past Syria's Jihad Busmar (left) on Tuesday. -AP

The UAE Olympic football team began their Asian Games campaign on a losing note, going down to Syria at the Jalak Harupat Stadium in Soreang, Indonesia on Tuesday.
The Under-23 team, coached by Polish coach Maciej Skorza, were stunned 1-0 by the Syrians in the Group C fixture in the men's football competition.
After being locked goalless in the first half, Abd Al Rahman Barakat scored the match-winner on 53 minutes. Syria are second in Group C with China topping the table after their resounding victory over Timor Leste, the other team in the group.
China had walloped Timor Leste 6-0 in the Group opener, earlier in the day, with Gao Zhunyi scoring a brace on 27 and 47 minutes. Zhang Yuning (4), Zhang Yuan (20), Wei Shihao (33) and Yao Junsheng (36) were the other scorers.
The UAE, trying to put last week's scuffle against Malaysia behind them, dominated possession as well as every other statistic, but it was a goal that proved to be elusive.
It was the Syrians, coached by Muhannad Al Fakeer, who had the first attempt at goal, just three minutes in, but Abd Al Rahman Barakat missed the target.
The UAE had to wait until the 12th minute to have their first try and they came close through Mohammed Al Mesmari. But the 25-year-old Fujairah winger saw his thwarted by goalkeeper and captain Ahmad Madnya.
The UAE were left to play second fiddle yet again by the Syrians who came up with a number of attempts but Mouhamad Anez and Mahmood Al Baher were to fluff their lines. Anez missed the target on 13 minutes, while Al Baher's right-footed effort from inside the box was brilliantly saved by 21-year-old Al Wahda shot stopper Mohamed Al Shamsi, who dived to his left, on 16 minutes.
The UAE thought that they had gone ahead on 25 minutes when Ali Al Yahyaee had stabbed the ball home but Jassim Yaqoub was found to be off-side following a neat lob from Shaheen Al Darmaki from the left.
Ali Al Yahyaee was to miss the target later on in the 31st minute.
And with three minutes left in the half, Syria's Mohammad Al Marmour was ruled off-side.
The UAE had one more attempt before they headed into the break but midfielder Salim Majid missed the target in added time.
Skorza made a change at the start of the second half, bringing a like for like replacement, defender Abdulla Al Hammadi making way for Esmail Al Ali.
But the substitution didn't have the impact with Syria breaking the deadlock on 53 minutes. Khaled Kurdaghli whipped in an inch perfect cross from the left and Barakat rose to head it home past Al Shamsi, who got a hand to it but couldn't stop it from going in.
The UAE retaliated through Al Mesmari, who had twin attempts but both his efforts were warded off by goalkeeper Madnya, on 59 and 64 minutes.
With an eye on the equaliser, Skorza brought in fresher legs upfront in attack, with striker Zayed Al Ameri replacing Al Jazira club mate midfielder Mohamad Al Attas on 66 minutes. He tweaked more, bringing in midfielder Husain Abdulla for Al Yahyaee and even though Majid and UAE captain Ahmed Al Mehrzi had attempts in stoppage time, the equaliser never materialised.
The UAE take on Timor Leste in their next game on Thursday.
james@khaleejtimes.com