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Abu Dhabi: The UAE registered their most crucial victory in the Asian qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, defeating Kuwait 3-2 late on Saturday night.
The victory not only compensated the UAE for their 1-0 defeat against Iran earlier, but also brought them one step closer to the second round.
The team are at second place in Group 5 with 8 points, following Iran, who lead with 9. Syria come next with 5, while Kuwait, already out of the competition, have 4.
The UAE will play at home against Syria next Sunday and are faced with three chances to reach the second round: to win, draw, or lose with a result no more than 2-0.
They only need one point in the last qualifiers match to seal their berth in the second round.
Stars of the match
Mattar was the UAE's hero in the first half, scoring the first goal 23 minutes into the match.
However, it was Saif Mohammad who scored the all-important goal in the last minute of the match which sent the UAE's players, fans and officials into jubilant celebrations thereafter.
Kuwait also made some effective strategic moves, with Ahmad Ajab scoring the equaliser for his team in the 31st minute.
The team went all out for the equaliser and applied the one line defence in an attempt to keep the UAE's strikers at bay, but the visitors managed to break through many times.
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