JEDDAH: The under-19 football team of the UAE made history yesterday, beating Uzbekistan 2-1 in the final of the AFC Youth Championship at Prince Muhammad bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
The victory before an army of cheering Emiratis, who came down to Dammam and joined Saudi fans in the stands, gave UAE its first continental title and completed a storybook title run in the competition.
Many sport pundits had
Uzbeks would not be easy. And that was the case.
Ahmad Khalil was easily the star of the match, scoring the two goals for the unbeaten and untied UAE side.
Prince Sultan ibn Fahd, president of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare, awarded the trophy and gold medals to the winners and silver medals to the runners-up. UAE played aggressive football right from the first whistle. Displaying his dexterity in set pieces, Khalil converted a free kick in the 32nd minute in a beautifully executed play that had the Uzbek goalkeeper helplessly watching the ball shot past to his left.
UAE drew back after the goal giving much room for Uzbekistan to put pressure in search of the equalizer. Uzbekistan nearly scored in the 35th minute from a powerful long distance shot that hit the cross bar. UAE managed to keep the lead at 1-0 at the end of the first half.
In the second half, it was the Uzbeks’ turn to be aggressive. They managed to score the equalizer in the 63rd minute as a result of poor defending from the UAE side.
Instead of caving in under pressure the UAE players displayed the kind of temperament champions are made of.
Rashed Essa came on in the 64th minute and from a fine solo maneuver, he created a perfect chance to score when he took the ball inside the penalty box but Uzbek defenders cleared his cross.
Determined to finish the match in regulation, UAE pushed forward and Khalil took advantage of a rebounded ball from the goalie to slot home what turned out to be the winner in the 72nd minute.
