UAE come from behind to complete fine win in Austria

Ahmed Khalil's strike a minute from time gave the UAE a 3-2 win over Moldova in Salzburg, Austria, last night. Goals from Fares Jumaa and Mohammed al Shehi had given the Whites a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute after Igor Tigirlas had struck early for the former Soviet republic. The score remained that way until Simion Bulgaru drew Moldova level with a header. Khalil, however, made sure he finished on the winning side with a smart finish in the 89th minute, beating the offside trap to score from a measured Sultan Bargash pass.

The winner from Khalil, who was denied by the crossbar four minutes earlier, was an apt finish for the UAE, who looked in control for most of the game. They made an organised start, with some crisp short-passing and possession play, but Alexandru Epureanu, Moldova's captain, almost scored off a corner in the 10th minute. They did not have to wait long for the goal, though. Alooping cross into the box from Nicolae Josan in the 14th minute had Denis Zmeu leaping for a header. The effort was weak, but the deflection fell to Igor Tigirlas and he fired home.

Mohammed al Shehi had a chance to equalise in the 22nd minute, but Artiom Gaiduchevici, the Moldova goalkeeper, rushed out to reduce the Al Wahda winger's options. Fares Jumaa, however, gave Gaiduchevici no chance when he headed in a Subait Khater free-kick in the 26th minute. Five minutes later, al Shehi got on the scoresheet as well, taking advantage of Gaiduchevici's failure to collect a long-range shot from Subait Khater. Al Shehi tapped home the rebound to put the Whites ahead.

With 10 minutes to go, Bulgaru levelled the scores, but Khalil changed the result in the final minutes. * Compiled by Ahmed Rizvi