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Al Ain: The UAE played their best match in the Asian qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup and lost by a single goal to Iran at Tahnoon Bin Mohammad Stadium here last last night.
With this win, Iran increased their tally to 6 points from 4 matches leading Group 5. The UAE now have 4 points.
The home team controlled the encounter totally, but failed to score.
Despite the loss, the UAE still have a chance of reaching the second round of the qualifiers if they win their remaining two matches against Kuwait, away on June 14, and against Syria, at home on June 22.
Bruno Metsu, the head coach of the UAE team, started off with a 4:4:2 formation, with Majid Nasir in goal; Saleh Obaid, Basheer Saeed, Faris Jumaa and Hayder Allo Ali in defence; Ahmad Dada, Abdul Rahim Juma, Hilal Saeed and Subait Khater in the midfield and Esmail Mattar and Faisal Khalil up the park.
Impressive start
The UAE started the match pressing for an early goal and gave the Iranians some hard moments. However, there was a lack of concentration and coordination in the defence.
The full backs advanced far too much to assist in the attacking moves, leaving gaping holes in the midfield for the Iranians to exploit.
Masaoud Shojaei sent Fridon Zandi clear behind the home defenders, who tried in vain to lay out the off-side trap. Zandi scored with an easy lob over the advancing custodian, Nasir, only seven minutes into the game.
The UAE, in their quest to equalise, dominated the match and created many organised moves, though they failed to convert them into goals.
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