Image via WikipediaThe United Arab Emirates ensured participation in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ finals for the eighth time in their history by finishing top of Group C, edging out runners-up and fellow Qatar 2011 qualifiers Uzbekistan.
Srecko Katenec’s side made a blistering start to the group, which had been reduced to three teams after India become the first nation to qualify to the continental finals by winning the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008, by hammering Malaysia 5-0 in their opening fixture.
The UAE could have taken a considerable step closer to Qatar a week later but were beaten 1-0 by Uzbekistan in Sharjah before returning to winning ways on home soil as the Gulf side earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Malaysia, who were already out of the reckoning following back-to-back defeats by the Uzbeks, sealed qualification.
The 1996 AFC Asian Cup runners-up rounded off their campaign by avenging their earlier defeat to the Uzbeks, winning 1-0 in Tashkent courtesy of goal three minutes into second-half stoppage time from Al Jazira midfielder Sultan Al Menhali.
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