AFC Asian Qualifiers
The win means UAE retain the top spot in the group ahead of a trip to Saudi Arabia’s Al Khobar where they will face Yemen again in the reverse fixture.
The hosts wasted no time in taking the game to their opponents, with Yahya Al Ghassani’s cross from the right requiring a heroic clearance from Harwan Al Zubaidi before it could reach Sultan Adil who had the goal at his mercy in the second minute.
Adil was close to opening the scoring inside six minutes when he rose highest and headed Ahmed Jamil’s cross from the right, but his header passed just wide.
Coach Paulo Bento’s men continued to pile the pressure and Yemeni goalkeeper Abdullah Al Sadi was beaten in the 18th minute when Khalifa Al Hammadi’s header was nodded on by Al Ghassani from close range, but the ball bounced back off the upright.
Bento was forced into an early substitution when right-back Jamil was stretched on, to be replaced by Zayed Sultan who made an instant impact when he was brought down inside the box two minutes after coming on. Ali Saleh stepped up and confidently slotted home from the spot to open the scoring for the Whites.
Yemen’s first sight of goal came ten minutes before the break when captain Abdulwasea Al Matari dribbled into the box from the right and drilled an effort that hit the outside of the side netting.
Al Matari nearly stunned the hosts three minutes into the second half when he took possession of the ball 35 yards out and unleashed an effort that looked destined for the top corner had it not been for a flying save from UAE goalkeeper Khaled Eisa to tip it behind.
At the hour mark, the UAE could have doubled their lead following a well worked attacking move that saw Mohammed Al Baloushi feed Al Ghassani down the left. The Shabab Al Ahli forward curled a beautiful strike that hit the upright.
The visitors drew level in the 69th minute when substitute Omar Al Dahi whipped a shot from a free-kick on the right flank which took a deflection of the outstretched leg of defender Abdullah Idrees as he looked to clear it, but instead sent it into the back of his own net.
The Yemenis’ joy did not last long and soon enough the UAE were back in the lead. Tahnoun Al Zaabi delivered a pinpoint cross from the corner and 19-year-old Sultan Adil climbed highest to power in a header into the net to make it 2-1.
