Iraq’s U-19 loses 1/2 to UAE in Asian competition

BAGHDAD/IraqiNews.com: Iraq’s under-19 football team lost its first match 1/2 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Group B of the Asian juniors’ games hosted by Saudi Arabia. The first half ended in a goalless tie though Iraq missed a player 12 minutes after the kick-off when the Qatari referee showed the red card to Mohamed Abdel Zahra. Although the UAE was playing zone defense, the Iraqi squad played awkwardly and came short of scoring. The second saw new moves by the UAE crowned by attacks by strikers Thiab Awaina and Ahmed Ali. The UAE scored its first goal from a penalty kick gained after a foul against its striker Ahmed Khalil at the 62nd minute in spite of a number of substitutions done by the Iraqi coach Hakim Shakir to boost the weak performance of his team. Weak Iraqi defense offered UAE’s Mohamed Fayez to score the second goal and to dash hopes of winning the match or even securing a draw. However, Iraqi player Mohamed Ouda managed to minimize the deficit and score a consolation goal for his team at the 83rd minute. The Iraqi team’s loss doubled when the Qatari referee sent off a second player at the 90th minute. AM (P)/AmR 1