(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Vengeful Japan humiliated the UAE 2-0 in the Group B 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Thursday evening.
It was the epoch of belief in the Samurai Blue's play that the UAE failed to gauge and match. The 'Whites' struggled to get an attacking momentum going and paid heavily for missing glorious chances to score.
Japan, with an early-season defeat, started with a pressing game. German club pair of strikers Yuya Osako and Yuya Kubo kept Emirati defenders on their toes. The UAE did respond with long balls from midfield in search of strikers and short attacking passes knitted between midfielder Ismail Al Hammadi and skipper Ismail Matar. And just when the UAE striker Ali Mabkhout was beginning to flourish, Japan made their first successful incursion.
In the 13th minute, midfielder Shinji Kagawa passed onto Hiroki Sakai, who made a clinical curling pass into the box for dynamic Kubo to make an audacious finish past keeper Khalid Eisa to the left corner. It was an easy goal conceded by the home side as defender Abdelaziz Sanqour was caught ball watching.
The goal, however, did wake up the Emiratis. And seven minutes later, it could have been level had Mabkhout converted from a sublime pass from Al Hammadi.
Omar Abdulrahman ran tirelessly in hunt of opportunities but was bottled by the Samurai backline led by Maya Yoshida. 'Amoory' was later booked for a late challenge on Japanese keeper Eiji Kawashima.
Twice in the half, the UAE had goal-scoring opportunities with Al Hammadi, Matar and Abdulrahman failing in the final act. In the final minute of half, Abdulrahman won a free-kick and the stadium waited in nervous anticipation but the delivery sailed well over the top.
Right after the break, Japanese forward Genki Haraguchi failed to find connection on a delivery from Kagawa. At the other end, Sanqour's pass into the box was missed by Mabkhout and Al Hammadi. In the very next minute, Sanqour failed to shoot from Al Hammadi's cross. Three minutes into the half and three goal scoring chances went begging but the fourth attack was a fruitful one. The visitors scored again.
Kubo made a measured pass from the right flank to find Yasuyuki Konno, who kept calm to deposit in into the throat of the UAE goal. Once again poor marking and lax defenders led to another easy goal.
Japanese midfield and forward contingent played a measured game and fired when opportunity existed but desperate UAE players lacked appetite and idea to score when it mattered. Ismail Ahmed was sorely missed in backline and so was Ahmed Khalil up front.
Just at stroke of an hour, Khalid Eisa made a top-class diving save to keep away Osako's header. Later, Mohamed Abdulrahman and Salem Saleh replaced Mattar and ineffective Khamis Esmaeel but all in vain for the home team.
Towards the end, there were plenty of passes and crosses from the Emirati players but they lacked direction and bite to worry Japan goal. The UAE also lacked discipline, collecting four yellow cards to one by Japan.
With an away game against Australia in Sydney next week, it looks like summer of despair for head coach Mahdi Ali and team.
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