UAE take first step to Olympics

The UAE had one of the easiest starts to their campaign to qualify for the London Olympics football finals in 2012 as they trounced Sri Lanka 7-1 at the Baniyas Stadium here on Tuesday night.

Leading 4-0 at the break, the Asian Games silver medal winners did not really have to work a sweat and will now meet the Lankans in the second leg tomorrow.

The favourites however almost conceded an early goal — but Sri Lankan skipper Philip Rashen, with only UAE goalkeeper Adel Hosani to beat, shot wide.

The UAE opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Ahmad Khalil latched on to a pass from Omar Abdul Rahman and shot home off the right post.

Rashid Eisa, back in the squad after recovering from injury, made his presence felt with a 15th minute strike off an Abdul Rahman pass and seven minutes later converted another chance, this time off Khalil.

Khalil, who was totally off colour with the senior national team in the Asian Games in Doha in January, was back in business with his incisive play. In the 37th minute he was brought down inside the box by Lankan defender Ramalan and the UAE skipper Hamdan Al Kamali made no mistake with the resultant spot kick.

Changing ends with a 4-0 lead, Khalil scored his second in the 54th minute off Abdul Aziz Hussain.