The United Arab Emirates staged a fightback from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Oman in Abu Dhabi yesterday in their Asian Group B World Cup qualifier and book a spot in the play-offs.
The draw gave them 11 points from their eight matches and second spot in a group dominated by China who claimed the automatic qualifying place for the finals in Japan and South Korea.
UAE finished just one point ahead of Uzbekistan who inflicted a 1-0 defeat on China in Tashkent.
UAE will now face the runners-up in Group A - either Iran or Saudi Arabia - in the play-offs with the winner of that match facing the Republic of Ireland for a place in the finals.
Oman, who claimed their first win of the tournament when they beat Uzbekistan 4-2 last week, soaked up early pressure and took the lead in the 22nd minute through Taqi Moubarak and then stunned the home crowd by adding a second four minutes before the interval through Hani Dhabet.
Abdulrahman Ibrahim reduced the arrears just after the resumption. The UAE's dutch coach Tini Ruijz brought on attackers Bachir Said and Yasser Salem in the hunt for the equaliser and the tactics paid off when Said set up Mohammed Omar for the second goal after 60 minutes.
ASIA QUALIFYING - GROUP B
FINAL STANDINGS
p w d l f a pts
China..... 8 6 1 1 13 2 19
UAE ...... 8 3 2 3 10 11 11
Uzbekistan 8 3 1 4 13 14 10
Qatar.... 8 2 3 3 10 10 9
Oman.... 8 1 3 4 7 16 6
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