UAE brought Thailand’s history-making AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup campaign to an end when they beat the hosts 4-2 in the quarter-finals yesterday.
UAE will face either defending champions Japan or Kuwait in the semi-finals on Saturday, while Thailand can walk tall despite the end of their campaign.
The two-time champions silenced the capacity crowd at the Jomtien Beach Arena as early as the second minute when Abdulla Alblooshi ran down the right and unleashed a shot that gave Thai keeper Suriya Boridet no chance.
The goal galvanised the Thais, who almost drew level in the 10th minute when Komrit Nanan’s looping header grazed the crossbar and then again in the final minute of the first half, when his shot struck the left post.
UAE went on the offensive in the second, but their efforts lacked bite until the 18th minute, when Abbas Daryaei’s overhead kick rebounded off Thailand’s Atus Thongdee and flew past Suriya.
Thailand, however, responded on the restart, with Komrit scoring with a shot that crashed against the back of the UAE net.
UAE extended their lead in the 23rd minute through Ali Mohammad, whose close range effort went beyond the keeper’s reach.
Thailand had the crowd roaring in the 30th minute when Tanandon Praracha scored from a penalty, but UAE put paid to any hopes of a comeback in the 35th minute when Ali Mohammad zoomed down the right and with keeper Suriya rooted to the spot, sent his shot to the left of the net for his second and UAE’s fourth of the match.
Meanwhile, Iran defeated Bahrain 10-0 in their quarter-final clash yesterday. In Saturday’s semi-final, Iran will face the winners of the quarter-final between Oman and China.
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