Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Gulf Cup champions the United Arab Emirates will be without highly-rated midfielder Omar Abdulrahman for Friday’s AFC Asian Cup Group E qualifier against Uzbekistan.
Abdulrahman was named tournament MVP as the UAE won the Gulf Cup earlier this year, but the 21-year-old suffered an injury while playing for UAE Pro League leaders Al Ain against Iran’s Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League last week and will miss the Group E encounter at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.
Al Jazira midfielder Sultan Barghash, who scored the stoppage-time winner against Uzbekistan during the qualifiers for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, has been called into the squad as a replacement.
Coach Mahdi Ali has also drafted in Al Ain centre-back Fares Juma to replace Al Jazira defender Ali Al Ameri, who was excluded from the squad due to disciplinary reasons, as the UAE look to build on February’s 2-1 away win over Vietnam.
“The match is important for the two teams. We made a good start to the qualifiers after getting an away win from Vietnam,” said UAE coach Ali.
“Uzbekistan have a good team and they have prepared well for our match and their next match in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
“We were hoping to play a friendly match as a preparation for Uzbekistan, but the conditions are hard as the players have a heavy local schedule and hopefully the players will be ready to prove that they are good and can have a good result, especially as we are playing at home in front of our fans.”
Uzbekistan, meanwhile, are seeking their first win of the campaign after the 2011 semi-finalists were held to a goalless draw by Hong Kong last month.
After arriving in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Mirdjalal Kasimov’s side also resume their bid to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Lebanon in Tashkent on Tuesday.
“The match will be very tough and exciting at the same time because the two teams have good technical players. The UAE have improved a lot and they have young and talented players which means that they will be tough opponents for us,” said Kasimov.
“We have some injuries within our team, but we will play with a different formation than the first match in the qualifiers as we will be playing against a tough opponent who will try to take advantage of playing at home in front of their fans.”
Also on Friday, Hong Kong will be without China-based striker Chan Siu-ki as Kim Pan-gon’s side look to build on last month’s hard-fought draw in Tashkent.
Chan suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Chinese First Division side Guangdong Sunray Cave on Saturday, while Kim will also be without Lo Kwan Yee – who was sent-off just before the hour mark at Pakhtakor Stadium – and Leung Chun-pong due to suspension.
“We will be without players due to injury and suspension, but this will not affect us because we play as a team and all the substitute players are ready, so I feel that our team is very much stronger than the last game,” said Kim, who was re-appointed as Hong Kong coach in November after working with the national academy following the departure of Ernie Merrick.
“Last summer I was a spectator as Hong Kong played against Vietnam in a friendly. Vietnam were very strong and confident, but over the last four months since I have returned to the team I have tried to build the team and I am confident that they will not be better than us.”
Vietnam came from behind to win June’s friendly 2-1 at Mong Kok Stadium, although the South East Asians have since exited at the group stage of last year’s AFF Suzuki Cup.
And following the AFF Suzuki Cup, where Vietnam picked up just one point from three games, new coach Hoang Van Phuc was handed the job on a temporary basis with the goal of integrating a new breed of young talent having previously worked at various levels of the national team youth set-up.
“Vietnam played Hong Kong last June, but that is a long time ago and Hong Kong have new players and also some naturalised players and have improved,” said the Vietnam coach.
“They also drew 0-0 with Uzbekistan in the last game so we will play carefully, but, while we respect our opponent, our target is to get three points.”