(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The UAE's hopes of qualifying for Russia 2018 and a second World Cup looks even bleaker after they played out a stalemate against a stoic Thailand at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday.
Up against the basement dwellers, this was the game that they should have won quite comfortably in the group but the UAE were pushed to the brink by an impressive Thailand, who were heading towards a famous and stunning win after Mongkol Thosakrai's opportunistic goal on 69 minutes.
But UAE marksman Ali Ahmed Mabkhout struck late in stoppage time as the UAE nicked a 1-1 draw in the World Cup qualifier.
The Al Jazira frontman tucked in substitute Ismail Matar's assist, in the third minute of four minutes added on, to leave The Whites precariously placed in Group B.
It was the UAE's first stalemate in Round 3 and the draw leaves them pinned in fourth place on 10 points. Thailand, who were denied a famous win, stay rooted at the bottom of the table with 2 points.
It wasn't the most ideal of starts for new coach Edgardo Bauza, with the match representing his first competitive game in charge of The Whites. A play-off spot seems to be disappearing into the distance and the UAE need to win their remaining two fixtures against Saudi Arabia and Iraq, by handsome margins and hope the Saudis and Australia lose both their matches.
The UAE are at home to Saudi Arabia on August 29 before playing Iraq away on September 5.
Bauza though hasn't lost hope just yet. "I have a plan and a vision and prepare everything for the next games," the former Argentina coach said after the match.
Elsewhere, table toppers Japan were held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq at the Shahid Dastgerdi Stadium in Tehran, Iran. Japan still lead with 17 points, followed by Saudi Arabia on 16 points and Australia third with 16 points.
"We were very close to making history. The guys did fantastic work. We deserved to win but unfortunately we conceded the goal in injury time. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic effort," Thailand coach Milovan Rajevac said after the game.
The game was also the Serb's first in charge of The War Elephants.
The match took place at the same time as Argentina took on Singapore in a friendly and while Bauza's former wards walloped Singapore 6-0, the UAE, as they were to find out later struggled against the Thais.
The UAE had started decently enough though with Ali Mabkhout coming up with an effort on eight minutes but the striker sent it wide of the post after Abdulaziz Sanqour had put in a cross from the right.
Thailand slowly grew into the game and put the UAE off theirs. The UAE's talisman Omar Abdulrahman, was tightly marked and was denied the ball for a brief spell, which meant that Thailand had managed to cut off the supply line.
Omar did win the ball though on 18 minutes and came up with a clever chip as Ali Mabkhout broke away. It was the UAE's best chance but his header just whizzed over the cross bar.
Thailand's first foray came on 20 minutes but it was averted by the UAE backline before things could get dangerous.
Omar again conjured a chip from the right but Sanqour's wrong-footed shot was collected by goalkeeper and captain Kawin Thamsatchanan.
Thailand had an opportunity on 24 minutes but Perapat Notechaiya curlin freekick just sailed over the cross bar.
The UAE were forced into a substitution with Sanqour limping off injured and Mohamed Fawzi coming in his place on 27 minutes.
Thailand came agonisingly close just close to the half hour after Thitipan Puangchan's corner was headed in by Adisak Kraisorn. But Mahmoud Khamis made a goalline clearance to deny them.
Tariq Ahmed came close at the other end when he surged ahead and shot but Thamsatchanan managed to get the slightest of deflections, for a corner.
Ahmed Khalil tested Thailand with a freekick on 65 minutes but Thamsatchanan managed to thwart the danger.
Thailand were to celebrate later as Notechaiya whipped in a cross from the right but Hamdan Al Kamali's lunging dive meant the ball took a slight deflection and caught goalkeeper Majed Naser wrong footed. And even though Mohanad Salem made a last gasp slide to clear, Thosakrai nudged it home.
Bauza's last throw of the dice was Ismail Matar, in for Khamis Ismail and the veteran played his part by latching on to Tariq Ahmed's long ball to set up Mabkhout.
Mabkhout could have turned it around even further after pouncing on a lapse from Thamsatchanan but he drilled it over despite having an open goal in front of him.
GOALS & CARDS:
UAE 1
(Goal:Ali Ahmed Mabkout 90+3.Yellow card:Ali Ahmed Mabkhout 62)
Thailand 1
(Goal:Mongkol Thosakrai69.Yellow card:Sanrawat Dechmitr 89)
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