UZBEKISTAN 1
UAE 1
Uzbekistan: Sergeev 84’ UAE: Al Hammadi 67’
Red card: Tukhtakhujaev (Uzbekistan)
Man of the match: Khamis Ismail (UAE)
No 100 per cent record, but no great bother. Mahdi Ali's UAE team had long qualified, as had their opponents Uzbekistan, for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia. A 1-1 draw last night in Tashkent left them clear winners of Group E. Bigger challenges lie ahead.
Not that either team treated the match for what it was, a pointless dead rubber. Ali Kasheif’s reaction to Ismail Al Hammadi’s goal was telling, the Emirati goalkeeper ecstatically celebrating by himself as his teammates mobbed the scorer on the touchline.
Mahdi Ali’s team showed in the second half that they remain a hungry group of players.
Now we await the March 26 draw for the continental championship.
The coach will, as is his nature, already be planning the year ahead. Friendlies will be arranged, training camps attended and every player individually monitored.
It would be churlish to question a team that have now gone 18 months without defeat, but Mahdi Ali will know more than anyone that qualification to a finals, and succeeding in one, are vastly different prospects.
Yesterday’s match will have left a few questions unanswered, despite a hugely improved performance in the second half.
For a start, the team’s two best players, Omar Abdulrahman and Amer Abdulrahman, were absent, and while the team have shown in the past that they can get results without them, they were clearly missed.
On the plus side is the fine form of Ali Mabkhout and the emergence of Walid Abbas, the rediscovery of 2013.
But perhaps Mahdi Ali’s biggest concern will surround the on-going inconsistency of Ahmed Khalil. The Al Ahli striker was once again on the periphery of the action as his strike partner Mabkhout continued to take centre stage.
Khalil is a Mahdi Ali favourite, having served his coach well at several age groups. Also, it should not be forgotten that it was his belated return to form that spurred the UAE’s run to glory at the Gulf Cup of Nations in Bahrain last year. Two goals against Oman and a late winner against Kuwait in the semi-final were a tantalising glimpse of Khalil’s capabilities, and hinted at genuine breakthrough.
Sadly, those interventions increasingly look more like a blip than a trend. It has been five years since Khalil exploded onto the scene at the 2009 Fifa U20 World Cup in Egypt, leading the UAE to the quarter-finals. Now 22, it is safe to say that he has not quite fulfilled his undoubted potential, with Omar Abdulrahman emerging to grab the nation’s “best player” crown that was his for the taking.
Khalil looks a player short on confidence. Worryingly, his club form, his career even, has been in decline for some time; the striker is very much third choice behind Al Ahli’s Brazilian forwards Grafite and Ciel.
It is not a healthy situation for the player or his country.
Perhaps the time has come for Khalil to contemplate the unthinkable and leave his beloved Al Ahli.
The Asian Cup will come halfway through next season, so a summer move, maybe even abroad, could just be the boost needed to reignite the career of a player with an abundance of skill.
That, along with a potential move for Omar Abdulrahman, could have a huge bearing on how the UAE perform in Australia.
In Manama, last year, the UAE needed a major breakthrough to win the Gulf Cup. In the past few days Mahdi Ali once again acknowledged that his aim is for the UAE to become one of Asia's best four teams.
Awaiting them in Australia, among others, will be the host nation, Iran, Japan and South Korea, the formidable foursome who will represent Asia at the World Cup in Brazil this summer.
Another giant leap will be needed for Mahdi Ali’s team. And for one of his favourite players, Ahmed Khalil.
akhaled@thenational.ae
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The biog
Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents
Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University
As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families
Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too
Company%20Profile
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A
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Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule
Friday
First practice, 1pm
Second practice, 5pm
Saturday
Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm
Sunday
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
SRI LANKA SQUAD
Upul Tharanga (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella
Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana
Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Seekuge Prasanna
Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera
Vishwa Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The%20Sandman
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
SPECS
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
'Nope'
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Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.