UAE scores record-breaking goal in 14 seconds, Iran advances
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UNITED Arab Emirates striker Ali Mabkhout scored after 14 seconds yesterday — the fastest goal in Asian Cup history — to propel his side towards a 2-1 win over Bahrain.
The Group C victory in Canberra marked the first time UAE had won its opening two matches at the tournament and secured a spot in the quarterfinals along with Iran.
Omar Abdulrahman clipped a superb ball over the top of Bahrain’s defence and Mabkhout calmly controlled it with his right foot before slotting past goalkeeper Sayed Abbas with his left.
It was Mabkhout’s third goal of the Asian Cup after a double in UAE’s opening 4-1 win against Qatar on Sunday, making him the tournament’s top scorer.
Quick goals have been scored at the competition before, notably China’s Xie Yuxin in 1992 and Kuwaiti Fat’hi Kameil in 1976 which both came in the first minute, but organizers said Mabkhout’s was the quickest ever. “I’m so happy about that,” the forward said.
Midfield wizard Abdulrahman, whose idol is France great Zinedine Zidane, was named man of the match and was equally delighted about his good friend’s strike.
“I’m very close to Mabkhout and I’m delighted he’s scored three already,” said Abdulrahman. “I will work hard to help him score more.”
Iran defeated Qatar 1-0, confirming UAE’s progression to the knockout stages.
UAE enjoyed more of the ball in the opening stages, but Bahrain gradually came into the match after the shock of conceding so early and always looked dangerous up front through Nigerian-born striker Jaycee Okwunwanne.
The bulldozing center-forward blazed just over the bar with an audacious overhead kick, before Ahmed Khalil rattled the post from close range at the other end. UAE would rue that miss shortly afterwards when Okwunwanne got his reward for his persistent badgering of the defence, scoring with a header at the back post from a corner on 26 minutes.
The start of the second half was less high-octane until Abdulrahman curled an indirect free-kick a fraction over on 61 minutes after Abbas had picked up a back-pass. UAE got its winner after 73 minutes when Bahrain captain Mohamed Hasan headed an in-swinging free-kick into his own net.
In Sydney, Sardar Azmoun’s fabulous solo goal earned Iran a quarterfinals berth.
Solid Qatari defending kept Iran at bay until shortly after half-time when Azmoun’s instinctive touch and shot ended their resistance and sent a partisan crowd wild.
Carlos Queiroz’s Team Melli is now into the quarterfinals for the sixth time in a row and continues to look strong contenders to break its 39-year Asian Cup drought.
Queiroz, who has worked with Real Madrid, Manchester United and Portugal, hailed Azmoun’s strike as “brilliant.”
“It was a brilliant goal. It was a special movement of the center-forward, a great turn at the level of some of the best center-forwards I have worked with in my life,” he said.
Three-time champion Iran will meet the UAE on Monday in Brisbane to determine top spot in Group C.
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