Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tashkent: Substitute Haboosh Saleh struck three minutes into stoppage-time as the UAE overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Uzbekistan 3-2 and put the gloss on their qualification to the 2012 London Olympics.
The UAE were in the Group B driving seat going into their final fixture of the third preliminary round of Asian qualifiers having garnered 11 points form their five matches compared to Uzbekistan's eight.
But with a win for the Uzbeks seeing them usurp the UAE for the Olympic ticket, the pressure was well and truly on the Emiratis as avoiding defeat in Tashkent was no easy task.
Vadim Abramov's men took control of Wednesday's match at the Jar Stadium as a 34th minute Oleg Zoteev strike followed by a Fozil Musaev effort two minutes after the interval made it look like Uzbekistan were London-bound.
But the match turned on its head in a dramatic four-minute spell with a quick-fire brace from Ahmed Khalil (51st and 55th) putting the UAE back on top of the Group B standings.
The draw would have been sufficient for the UAE but Haboosh Saleh, who ironically replaced Khalil in the 70th minute, scored a dramatic late winner to rub salt into the wounds of the Uzbeks, who must now negotiate the three-team play-offs if they are to participate in the Olympic Games for the first time.