UAE Secures Dramatic Last-Minute Victory Over North Korea in FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: The United Arab Emirates’ hopes of securing a place in the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time in 36 years received a significant boost following a dramatic last-minute victory over North Korea in Riyadh.
Sultan Adil’s 98th-minute diving header sealed a crucial win, denying North Korea a hard-earned draw and bringing Paulo Bento’s side within four points of qualifying rivals Uzbekistan.
UAE entered the match as strong favorites, and their dominance was evident early on when Fabio Lima fired them ahead within five minutes. Lima capitalized on slick approach play from the left, scoring on his second attempt to set the tone for what many expected to be a comfortable victory.
However, the Emirati side struggled to build on their early lead, and North Korea equalized just before halftime. UAE failed to clear a corner, and after Jong Hwi-Nam’s initial header rebounded off the crossbar, Kim Yu-Song bravely bundled the ball home amid a flurry of flying boots.
North Korea defended resolutely throughout a largely uneventful second half, but just as the match seemed destined to end in a draw, UAE found a breakthrough. A well-placed ball into the left channel sliced open the Korean defense, and Adil threw himself forward to direct a stunning header into the net, igniting jubilant celebrations among the Emirati players and fans.
With this crucial victory, UAE strengthens its position in the race for World Cup qualification, keeping its dreams of reaching the tournament alive.
