Tough luck for UAE

ABU DHABI // The UAE's World Cup hopes were given a severe blow when Saudi Arabia came from a goal down to beat them 2-1 last night at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. Abdu Ateef cancelled UAE's lead in the 68th minute and substitute Ahmed al Fraidi fired the winner four minutes later after the visitors staged a spirited second half rally. They didn't stop at that and kept the pressure on the home side. The result takes Saudi Arabia level on top in the Group Two qualifier with North Korea, who played out a 1-1 draw with their southern neighbours earlier in the day. The UAE took the field knowing nothing less than three points would suffice to keep their dreams of reaching the World Cup finals and the coach Bruno Metsu's employed an attacking ploy that saw them go ahead through a 21st minute goal from Subait Khater. They should have doubled the lead but Faisal Khalil was wide from a shot inside the area after Ismail Matar had put him through the defence with an excellent lobbed pass two minutes before the break. Metsu made three changes to his lineup from the game with North Korea four days ago. He brought in Khalil as the third forward along with Matar and Mohammed al Shehhi. Ismail al Hammadi came in place of the injured captain Abdulraheem Jumaa and Adil Abdulaziz replaced Saleh Obaid in the left wing. @email:apassela@thenational.ae