Thailand settles draw with UAE
A late goal from Ali Ahmed Mankhout kept alive the United Arab Emirates’ slim hopes of a place at Russia 2018 after the visitors scored a point with a 1-1 draw with host Thailand in their Group B World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the at the Rajamangala National Stadium on Tuesday.
The UAE had begun the tie seven points behind Saudi Arabia and Australia, who occupy second and third, and needed at a minimum a draw from the clash in Southeast Asia to keep them in with at least a mathematical chance of third place and a play-off spot with two games remaining.
The game was a first real test for new national coach Melovan Rajevac who replaced Kiatisak Senamuang in early May.
The Kingdom has already been eliminated from the World Cup finals with just a single point from seven games. Several key players including Theerathon Bunmathan and Chanathip Songkrasin were absent due to injuries.
After a scoreless first half, Thailand struck the first blood in the 69 th minute. Mongkol Tossakrai turned up the volume in Bangkok when UAE goalkeeper Majed Naser fumbled Perapat Notechaiya’s low cross from the left and the forward stabbed home. The 30-year-old was in jubilant and shouted in front of the TV camera “I love Thailand” in satisfaction after his presence in the team stirred some doubts earlier.
But the home celebration did last long as the Emeratis found an equalizer during the injury time as Tariq Ahmed’s long pass reached Ismaeil Matar and he found Mabkhout in the area to fire home.
