The UAE’s World Cup hopes remain on a knife edge after a pulsating 1-1 draw with Iraq at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium on Thursday night.
In front of more than 32,000 roaring supporters, Cosmin Olaroiu’s men fought back from an early setback to keep their qualifying campaign alive ahead of Tuesday’s decisive return leg in Basra.
A Night of Emotion and Expectation
The evening carried all the weight of a defining national moment. A military band played the anthems, dignitaries including Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, the UAE’s Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister, watched from the stands, and every tackle drew gasps from a crowd living every second.
But tension often overcame composure. The UAE conceded early, clawed back quickly, and then clung on through a series of testing moments, most of them repelled by their inspired goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.
Early Blow, Swift Response
Iraq struck first in the 10th minute. A deep free-kick caused chaos in the box, and Akam Hashim’s clever volley across goal found Ali Al Hamadi, who bundled the ball past Eisa from close range.
The forward, in electric form this season, nearly doubled the lead minutes later but was denied by a superb one-on-one save from the UAE keeper.
The setback was reminiscent of the defensive lapses that haunted the UAE in their loss to Qatar last month, but this time they found a swift reply.
In the 18th minute, Abdalla Ramadan broke down the right flank and whipped in a precise cross for Luan Pereira, whose towering header powered into the bottom corner. The Brazilian-born midfielder, returning from injury, offered a glimpse of the creativity and drive his side had been missing.
Eisa Stands Tall as Iraq Press
For much of the first half, Iraq looked sharper and more composed in possession. Mohanad Ali and Marko Farji both tested Eisa, who produced a string of reflex saves to keep the scores level. The UAE, meanwhile, struggled to find rhythm, turning over possession too easily and allowing Iraq to dictate tempo in midfield.
Late UAE Surge Falls Short
The hosts gradually grew into the second half. Olaroiu made attacking changes, throwing on extra forwards as the UAE chased a winner. With Caio Lucas and Ali Saleh pushing high, they pinned Iraq back in the final 20 minutes.
Deep into stoppage time, Caio bundled the ball into the net from a set piece, sparking brief celebration — only for the assistant referee’s flag to rise for offside. The stadium groaned in unison as the moment slipped away.
All to Play for in Basra
The draw leaves everything to fight for when the teams meet again in Basra, where a raucous home crowd will await. The winner of the tie will move one step closer to the six-nation intercontinental play-off, with two coveted places at the World Cup Finals up for grabs.
For the UAE, survival depends on composure, defensive solidity, and the hope that Eisa’s heroics and Pereira’s spark can carry over into one last battle.
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