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Dubai: UAE succeeded in snatching a point from Syria in a tough clash in the Group E World cup qualifier at the Al Abasyeen stadium in Damascus on Wednesday.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw with Esmail Mattar scoring the equaliser and showing an excellent performance - as if to silence his critics who were questioning his abilities.
UAE stay on top of Group E with four points, with Syria are currently in the second place and keeping an eye on the Kuwait-Iran match held late last night.
It is still a long way to go for the UAE to qualify for the second round on the way to South Africa 2010. They will have to play four tough matches in June against Iran home and away, then away to Kuwait before they play Syria at home in their last match.
The match was attended by 40,000 Syrian crowd, though the UAE supporters travelled with their team were present in the stadium waving UAE flags and cheering the players.
UAE began meekly and their defenders and the goalkeeper were embarrassed in the first 15 minutes. The Syrians surprised the spectators by scoring the first goal after just two minutes from kick-off.
Firas Esmail advanced from the left and crossed to Ziad Shaabo in front of the UAE goal, the latter diverting the ball past the hapless UAE goalkeeper and his defenders.
Confused defence
The UAE defence looked confused, though the Syrians could not capitalise from that - squandering all the sitters came their way. The Chinese referee Sun Bo Ji made an error when he didn't show the red card to Syrian goalkeeper Mossab Falhoss who handled the ball outside the box. UAE coach Bruno Metsu protested that and asked the referee to issue him marching orders, but he didn't and Falhoss continued play. The UAE players began to calm down and showed good form right from the end of the first half. Esmail Mattar hit the equaliser in 53rd minute when Sibait Khater crossed from a corner kick as Mattar's powerful header beat Falhoss to his right.
Mattar and Ahmad Dada led some dangerous forays, buth Al Sheh'hi lost several sitters. The upright denied Shaabo from scoring the winner for Syria when his blast from close range bounced off in 78 minute. UAE defenders, led by Bashir Saeed, Rashid Abdul Rahman, Faiz Juma and Obaid Khlifa did well to keep the Syrians at bay till the final whistle.
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