Adil’s late goal helps UAE pip N.Korea to keep WC qualification hopes alive

Sultan Adil’s late goal kept UAE’s hopes of automatic qualification alive after they secured a last-gasp 2-1 win against North Korea in their AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Group A match on Tuesday.

Adil scored deep into stoppage time to secure the win that cut the gap to second-placed Uzbekistan in Group A to four points ahead of the meeting between the two countries in their penultimate third-round qualifier on June 5. Iran booked their spot at next year’s global showpiece after a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan.

UAE seized the early control and went ahead after only five minutes with Fabio de Lima notching his 21st international goal. Harib Abdalla played the ball behind North Korea’s defence with Kim Yu Song’s attempted clearance bouncing off goalkeeper Kang Ju Hyok to allow Lima to pounce on the rebound and knock home the opener.

Paulo Bento’s side had North Korea pinned in their own half with Caio Fernandes going close in the 15th minute with a diving header that had Kang beaten but was just slightly off target.

The game turned midway through the first half with North Korea starting to ask questions of UAE’s defence, Pak Hwang Hun produced a towering header that was inches away from finding the target.

North Korea got themselves back on level pegging in the 43rd minute from a corner kick when Jong Hwi Nam’s initial header crashed against the bar with Yu Song nodding the rebound home.

The second half was a more balanced affair albeit one where chances were few and far in between.

Bento and his counterpart, Sin Yong Nam, both made changes to their respective sides but the game looked no closer to producing another goal.

There was finally some goalmouth action with 10 minutes left on the clock, Kang making back-to-back saves to stop Abdalla Ramadan’s free-kick before catching Lucas Pimenta’s overhead attempt.

With seconds left in the seventh minute of added time, UAE found the winner with Adil glancing home a header from Abdalla’s cross to break North Korea hearts.

UAE and Bento part ways: The UAE sacked Portuguese Bento on Wednesday, the morning after his team kept alive their hopes of direct qualification to the World Cup.

The top two from each of three Asian groups qualify automatically for the 2026 finals but Bento will not now be around for the conclusion of the campaign.

“The UAE Football Association has decided to dismiss the head coach of the national team, Portuguese Paulo Bento, along with his coaching staff,” UAEFA said in a message on social media on Wednesday.

Bento, who guided Portugal to the semi-finals of Euro 2012 and South Korea to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, had led the Emirates to 14 wins, six draws and six losses since he took over in July 2023.

The UAE are assured of a spot in the fourth round of qualifying should they fail to secure an automatic ticket after the Uzbekistan clash and their final qualifier in Kyrgyzstan five days later.

Ihab urges Palestine to power on after historic triumph: Ihab Abujazar could not hide his pride after Palestine edged Iraq 2-1.

Trailing for most of the match, two goals in the space of eight minutes turned despair into joy for Palestine after efforts from Wessam Abouli (88th) and Ahmed Mahajneh (90th+6) cancelled Aymen Hussein’s first half opener for Iraq as they celebrated a first ever victory at this stage of the Asian Qualifiers.

While victory wasn’t enough to keep them in the race for the two automatic spots to the Finals, the three points mean they are in the mix for the two playoff spots from the group.

“We thank God for this victory, it is very important for us. We prepared well for the match after losing to Jordan (on Thursday),” said Ihab.