AFC Asian Cup - UAE 3 Kyrgyzstan 2 (AET) - Match Report
Ahmed Khalil scores in extra-time as hosts UAE survive a scare from Kyrgyzstan to book place in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 win
You can watch the Live Match Stream of UAE Vs Kyrgyzstan via beIN CONNECT
Match Report
Ahmed Khalil converted an extra-time penalty to earn United Arab Emirates a shot at Asian Cup revenge against Australia as the hosts beat Kyrgyzstan 3-2 in the round of 16.
UAE were on course to advance inside 90 minutes when Ali Ahmed Mabkhout netted for the third game in a row to give his side a 2-1 lead after Khamis Esmaeel's opener was cancelled out by Mirlan Murzaev's header.
However, substitute Tursunali Rustamov forced extra time with a near-post header in second-half stoppage time, only for UAE to go ahead for a third time through Khalil's decisive 103rd-minute spot-kick.
UAE now have a chance to avenge their 2015 Asian Cup semi-final loss to Australia in the 2019 quarter-finals, with the Socceroos winning 2-0 four years ago en route to claiming the tile on home soil.
Alberto Zaccheroni's side struck first from a corner routine that saw Ismaeil Matar's delivery nodded on by Khalifa M Ghanim and then flicked in by Esmaeel's head.
Yet Kyrgyzstan responded 12 minutes later, Murzaev taking the ball around goalkeeper Khalid Eisa Bilal and squeezing home despite the presence of two defenders trying to clear off the line.
Nineteen minutes into the second half Mabkhout, who was top scorer at the 2015 Asian Cup, capitalised on some slack defending to stay onside and make it 2-1.
Kyrgyzstan, for whom Tamirlan Kozubaev squandered two great chances from close range, were heading out until substitute Rustamov headed in Anton Zemlianukhin's near-post corner in the 91st minute.
It was UAE who came up with an extra-time winner when they were awarded a soft penalty after Mabkhout hit the deck when held by Bekzhan Sagynbaev, and Khalil rolled his penalty down the middle and in off Kutman Kadyrbekov's trailing leg.
Kyrgyzstan were unable to respond for a third time, with Bakhtiyar Duyshobekov and then Rustamov, the latter in the final seconds, denied by the woodwork.
Goals
Goal! Ahmed Khalil scores from the spot in extra-time!
Goal! Rustamov heads Kyrgyzstan level at the death!
Goal! UAE take the lead! Ali Mabkhout beats the offside trap and smashes the ball into the net!
Goal! Mirlan Murzaev rounds the keeper and Kyrgyzstan are level! 1-1!
Goal! Khamis Esmaeel heads the hosts into the lead!
Live Updates
Preamble
The teams are in!
📝 Lineups in! 🇦🇪 @uaent2019 🆚 @_FFKR 🇰🇬
The #AsianCup2019 hosts vs debutants Kyrgyz Republic at Zayed Sports City Stadium in less than an hour 🏟! pic.twitter.com/cOBVWmP65U — #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) January 21, 2019
This fan is looking forward to the game!
Confident prediction from this Emirati kid 😄 #AsianCup2019
🇦🇪 🆚 🇰🇬 KOs in less than 30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/2yLSoXIQBM — #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) January 21, 2019
A small, if loud contingent of Kyrgyzstan will be watching the game at the stadium!
This is such a great tournament. Four busloads of fans, more than 60 have driven in and dozens already in Abu Dhabi for Kyrgyzstan's match. Over a million watching at home.
The Asian Cup is superb as are the stories it gives us. #AsianCup2019 #UAEvKGZ #Akshumkar https://t.co/OOmKG1sR7p — Ryan Steele (ライアン) (@Steelinho) January 21, 2019
The UAE have arrived! Plenty of pressure on the hosts tonight, it's fair to say they have yet to click into gear this tournament. A big win against Kyrgyzstan would transform the Whites hopes of lifting the Asian Cup on home soil!
تركيز 🇦🇪#كأس_آسيا2019 #الإمارات_قيرغستان pic.twitter.com/qKc4HsBR0A — #كأس_آسيا2019 (@afcasiancup_ar) January 21, 2019
Hello! Good evening! Welcome to the hosts UAE book their place in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup? They face a Kyrgyzstan side who impressed in their final game against the Philippines to seal their space as a lucky loser in the competition. As ever, you can join me for all the action, latest team news and goals as they go in Abu Dhabi.