One point will do for Emirati U22s against North Korea

Unbeaten UAE meet North Korea in Oman on Wednesday, needing only a draw to reach the quarterfinals of the Asian Under 22 Championships

Yousif Saeed and the United Arab Emirates need just a draw against North Korea to advance at the AFC Under 22 Championship. Francois Nel / Getty Images
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MUSCAT // The UAE coach Ali Ibrahim said that his team would go all-out for a win against North Korea on Wednesday in their final Group B match of the AFC Under 22 Championships in Oman, though a draw would be enough to take them through to the quarter-finals.

The UAE are level on four points with Syria at the top of the group after their 1-0 win over Yemen on Monday, while North Korea have three points from their 3-1 win over Yemen in the opening game. They lost 1-0 to Syria on Monday, which means they need to win to clinch one of the two quarter-final berths from the group.

Ibrahim said the North Koreans will not give up without a fight and has urged his players to raise their game after what he described as a disappointing match against Yemen, when they failed to add to Yousif Saeed’s sixth-minute header.

“I am not happy with our performance against Yemen despite the win,” he said yesterday. “We played at a lower level than the first match against Syria, and the players have the ability to play at a better level.

“We need to lift our game, especially the strikers who missed a lot of opportunities against Yemen, as our ambition is to win this match and finish at the top of the group. We are not looking at a draw.”

The UAE started their campaign in Oman with an impressive performance against Syria, with Saif Khalfan equalising for the Emiratis just three minutes after Hamid Mido had given the Syrians a 35th-minute lead. Nasouh Al Nakdali then scored the lone goal in their win over North Korea.

Syria face last-place Yemen in their final group game on Wednesday and, if both UAE and the Syrians win their matches, the group winner will be decided by goal difference. A North Korea win and a draw for Syria could mean the end of the tournament for the UAE, but Ibrahim is not considering such a fate.

“We are ready for North Korea and we know enough about their team,” he said. “We are going to make some changes in certain positions, but in general we will look to win as we are not going to wait for the other result as that is risky.”

The North Korea coach Yun Jong-su could be without the services of influential striker Pak Kwang-ryong for the game. The Basel striker played against Yemen with his head wrapped in bandages after a collision in the first half of that game, and that injury affected his performance in the loss to Syria.

“Pak has not totally recovered from his slight injury and he was not fully refreshed for the game against Syria,” Yun said.

“So we may make some changes. I will consider the situation and decide after the final training session. We will also seek the player’s reaction before I decide what to do in the next match.”

arizvi@thenational.ae