Monday cover: UAE cut down Qatar in Asian Cup opener

The National's Sport cover for the Monday, January 12 issue, featuring the UAE national football team as they thrashed Qatar 4-1 at the Asian Cup.

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The National's Sport cover for the Monday, January 12 issue, featuring the UAE national football team as they thrashed Qatar in their Asian Cup Group C opening match on Sunday 4-1.

Covering the match from Canberra, Australia, Ali Khaled writes:

“The UAE got their 2015 Asian Cup campaign off to a dream start after coming back from a goal down to thrash Gulf Cup of Nations champions Qatar 4-1 yesterday.

“Mahdi Ali’s men matched Australia’s scoreline against Kuwait on the opening night to leave the coach delighted with the result.

“‘I am very happy with this win. Usually, a coach is optimistic when he sees the players doing their best, how disciplined they are, how much effort they are putting in their training, doing what I want,’ he said.”

Khaled also takes note of Ahmed Khalil, who secured the equaliser and eventual winning goal on Sunday, rewarding UAE coach Mahdi Ali's faith:

“As has been so often the case in recent UAE football history, when the going got tough it was Ahmed Khalil who stepped up for his national team.

The Al Ahli forward has often been the man to take centre stage when his country needed him most and he was at it again yesterday.”

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