Qatar 2023: UAE thump Malaysia to get qualifying back on track

One down, loads to go as Bert van Marwijk and the UAE made a successful return to motion of their quest to attain the Fifa World Cup in Qatar subsequent yr.

After a yo-yo marketing campaign, with upsets and numerous delays due to COVID-19, the UAE lastly made some inroads of their quest to high Group G by slicing down Malaysia 4-0 in effective model.

Despite the lopsidedness, the scoreline was not as flattering because the show because the UAE peppered the objective of the guests on the Zabeel Stadium in Dubai.

Goal machine Ali Mabkhout grabbed the opening objective on 19 minutes, however — on one other day — may simply have had as many as 5, with unfortunate breaks and lucky saves and deflections holding him out.

Fabio de Lima netted the second with 10 minutes to go and secured the important three factors that may get the UAE’s marketing campaign back on track. It was straightforward road in damage time as Mabkhout and De Lima each doubled their tallies and the Malaysians fell aside on the back.

They are actually up to second spot behind leaders Vietnam. Group G rivals Indonesia and Thailand had been tied 2-2 on the ultimate whistle, in a outcome that helped neither group.

There had been a couple of annoyed faces at full time, however a four-goal swing makes the UAE’s objective distinction look a lot more healthy, and a visit to Qatar a way more reasonable proposition.

Elsewhere, India’s hopes took a success as they misplaced 1-0 to Qatar. Abdulaziz Hatem struck the one objective. It was at all times an uphill activity for the ‘home’ aspect as Rahul Bheke was despatched off for India after solely 17 minutes in Doha.