A quick-fire hat-trick from Ali Mabkhout ensured the UAE were convincing 5-1 winners in a friendly against Turkmenistan at the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium. Mohammed Abdulrahman opened the scoring on the half-hour before Amer Omar doubled the lead two minutes later. The visitors closed the gap courtesy of Suleyman Muhadov in the 57th before Al Jazira’s Mabkhout, playing on his home pitch, struck three times in 17 minutes to complete the rout. The friendly was part of the UAE’s preparation for their 2018 World Cup Qualifier against East Timor at home on November 12 followed by a meeting with Malaysia five days later.
Meanwhile, Palestine’s football association said it had reluctantly agreed to play upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Saudi Arabia and Malaysia at neutral venues, with the games set for Jordan. The association, however, is also requesting a postponement of the match against Saudi Arabia, set for Monday, to allow it more time to organise, association head Jibril Rajoub said. Fifa on Wednesday ordered Palestine to play the matches at neutral venues because of security fears. “I spoke to (Jordan’s) Prince Ali over the last two days and we will play the two matches in Jordan,” Rajoub said. “We will ask to postpone the match (with Saudi Arabia) for logistical reasons.” The Palestine-Malaysia match is scheduled for November 12.
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