Thailand suffer third defeat in WC qualifiers after going down 3-1 to UAE
Thailand slumped to its third consecutive defeat in the last-12 Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup following a 3-1 loss to UAE in the Group B clash in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
The Kingdom’s hopes of qualifying for their first ever World Cup finals further dwindled by the latest setback at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium as they sit bottom of the group without a point after three games.
With shaggy-haired Omar Abdulrahman pulling the string in midfield, the hosts dictated the pace of the game from the outset and went ahead with barely a first quarter of an hour gone.
An inviting low cross from the right side was bundled in at the far post by Ali Mabkhout and the goal was allowed to stand despite the suspicion that the striker was in offside position.
In the 25th minute, UAE should have made it 2-0 but Abdelaziz Sanqour’s header from eight yards bounced off the crossbar, with Mabkhout failing to capitalise on the rebound.
The hosts still looked more threatening every time they broke forward and Salem Saleh should have done better when he expertly turned inside his marker in the area but fired his low left-foot shot straight at the visiting keeper in the 34th minute.
Given that the visitors’ defence struggled to cope with Abdulrahman’s laudable range of passing, it came as no surprise when UAE managed to double their advantage soon after the break. The Al Ain midfielder teed up Mabkhout with superb pass from just inside the Thai half before the striker emphatically smashed home his second on the night.
The Thais, though, were given a lifeline when substitute Tana Chanabut pulled a goal back barely a minute after coming off the bench. The Port FC striker also put the ball into the net late on but his effort was ruled out for offside before UAE made sure of the win with a stoppage time goal from Ahmed Khalil.
