A winner in defeat

UAE coach Dominique Bathenay singled out debutant striker Ahmed Khalil for special praise after watching his side give a gutsy, but ultimately glum, display during their 1-1 draw with Iran in World Cup qualifying.

Khalil enjoyed a late call-up to the full national squad this week following his displays in the Emirates' victorious Under-19s Asian Championships campaign.

Khalil, brother of Al Ahly striker Faisal, scored four goals – two in the final against Uzbekistan – and scooped the Most Valuable Player award.

Bathenay, who had earlier dropped Subait Khater and Ali Abbas on disciplinary grounds, said he was pleased with the Al Ahly forward's overall contribution after handing him his first cap with 21 minutes remaining.

"I pushed Ahmed Khalil into the game to increase attacking effectiveness and score the second goal, which would have eased our mission and complicated the situation for Iran," said the Frenchman.

"I think the player showed a good level of performance and contributed to making more than one opportunity for the team.

"And also he was able to get into good goalscoring situations on two separate occasions."

The Falcons had dominated much of the first half at the Al Maktoum Stadium and got their reward when captain Abdulraheem Jumaa slotted past Iranian keeper Mehdi Rahmati to give the home side the lead.

But a lapse of concentration in defence midway through the second half gifted Iran an equaliser.

The goal resulted in a nervy last 10 minutes for both teams and Khalil, who received a standing ovation on his introduction to proceedings, could have increased his stock further were it not for Rahmati's outstretched arm.

The draw means Iran retain their unbeaten run in Group 2 while the UAE, who have failed to qualify for the World Cup since Abdulrahman Mohammed led them to Italy in 1990, need a miraculous change in fortune if they are to earn a place at South Africa 2010.

Bathenay's side sit rooted to the bottom of the group with one point and still need to travel to North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

"The team's mission to qualify for the World Cup is now very difficult," admitted the coach. "We will need a very big percentage of luck."

But Iran coach Ali Daei was suitably impressed with his opponent's performance and said that, had the Falcons performed similarly in previous qualifiers, they would not be in the dire situation they find themselves.

"The UAE played the best game since the beginning of the qualifiers," said Iran's all-time leading goalscorer.

"If they had played all their games at the same level, they would have strongly competed in the fight to book one of the two tickets to the World Cup finals.

"I think the UAE players realised this game was their last chance. Therefore, they did their best in order to keep their hopes of qualification alive."

Bathenay, who was appointed coach following the departure of Bruno Metsu in August, said he will not rue his side's late improvement and will instead turn his attention to the 19th Gulf Cup, to be held in Muscat, Oman from January 4-17.

The UAE won the last edition of the Gulf-wide championships in 2007 when the event was held in the Emirates. It was the countries first piece of major silverware in their 36-year history.