Asian Games silver medal winners did not really have to work a sweat and will now meet the Lankans in the second leg on Friday
Abu Dhabi: The UAE had one of the easiest starts to their campaign to qualify for the London Olympics football finals in 2012 as they trounced Sri Lanka 7-1 at the Baniyas Stadium here Tuesday night.
Leading 4-0 at the break, the Asian Games silver medal winners did not really have to work a sweat and will now meet the Lankans in the second leg on Friday.
The favourites however almost conceded an early goal but Sri Lankan skipper Philip Rashen with only UAE goalkeeper Adel Hosani to beat shot wide.
The UAE however did not take long and in the 7th minute Ahmed Khalil opened the hosts account when he latched on to a forward pass from Omar Abdulrahman and shot home off the right post.
Rashid Eisa, back in the squad after recovering from injuries, made his presence felt with a 15th minute strike off a Abdulrahman pass and seven minutes later converted another chance, this time off Ahmad Khalil.
Khalil, who was totally off colour with the senior national team in the Asian Games in Doha in January, was back in business with his incisive play. In the 37th minute he was brought down inside the box by Lankan defender Ramalan and the UAE skipper Hamdan Al Kamali made no mistake with the resultant spot kick.
Crossing over with a 4-0 lead, Khalil scored his second in the 54th minute off Abdul Aziz Hussain. But the Sri Lankan side, despite letting in goals did string together a couple of raids and off one such move Mohammad Kaiz missed a close chance. However in the 61st minute the visitors did manage to pull one back and this time their skipper Rashen made amends for his early miss when he scored off a flag kick.
But the joy was short-lived as Ahmad Ali made it 6-1 three minutes later and then in the 67th minute substitute Ali Mabhkout, another UAE star coming out of injury, helped himself to a goal. The Lankans managed to stave off any further goals and UAE now carry a 7-1 lead into Friday’s second leg.
Abu Dhabi: The UAE had one of the easiest starts to their campaign to qualify for the London Olympics football finals in 2012 as they trounced Sri Lanka 7-1 at the Baniyas Stadium here Tuesday night.
Leading 4-0 at the break, the Asian Games silver medal winners did not really have to work a sweat and will now meet the Lankans in the second leg on Friday.
The favourites however almost conceded an early goal but Sri Lankan skipper Philip Rashen with only UAE goalkeeper Adel Hosani to beat shot wide.
The UAE however did not take long and in the 7th minute Ahmed Khalil opened the hosts account when he latched on to a forward pass from Omar Abdulrahman and shot home off the right post.
Rashid Eisa, back in the squad after recovering from injuries, made his presence felt with a 15th minute strike off a Abdulrahman pass and seven minutes later converted another chance, this time off Ahmad Khalil.
Khalil, who was totally off colour with the senior national team in the Asian Games in Doha in January, was back in business with his incisive play. In the 37th minute he was brought down inside the box by Lankan defender Ramalan and the UAE skipper Hamdan Al Kamali made no mistake with the resultant spot kick.
Crossing over with a 4-0 lead, Khalil scored his second in the 54th minute off Abdul Aziz Hussain. But the Sri Lankan side, despite letting in goals did string together a couple of raids and off one such move Mohammad Kaiz missed a close chance. However in the 61st minute the visitors did manage to pull one back and this time their skipper Rashen made amends for his early miss when he scored off a flag kick.
But the joy was short-lived as Ahmad Ali made it 6-1 three minutes later and then in the 67th minute substitute Ali Mabhkout, another UAE star coming out of injury, helped himself to a goal. The Lankans managed to stave off any further goals and UAE now carry a 7-1 lead into Friday’s second leg.
