UAE Under-20 squad lose to Iranian visitors

Gulf News - The UAE's Under 20 football team lost their last friendly match against Folad of Iran 0-3 on Thursday, two days before leaving for Doha, Qatar, to take part in the finals of the Asian Youth Championship, October 15-31.

The match, held at the external grouds of Zayed Sports City, uncovered many mistakes, in defence in particular, that the technical staff, headed by Frenchman Jodar, should iron before the kick off of the competition where the UAE will compete in a group with China, Syria and Vietnam.

The UAE lacked mutual understanding between the players, specially in the first half which witnessed the three Iranian goals from Amsan Tarmoudi, Sayed Mohammed and SAman Mosawi.

Jodar applied the 3:5:2 formation instead of their usual startegy of 4:4:2 which the team used to adopt lately. But it was clear that the team need more time to digest the new strategy while there are only four days before the kick off of the competition.

The UAE team will gather today at Millinnium Hotel in Abu Dhabi and leave tomorrow to Doha for the Asian Championship with a delegation that includes 21 players as Dhiyab Abdulla is still under treatment of injury with his colleague Malullah Abdulla accompanying the team as a substitute in case Dhiyab did not fully recover before the start of the championship