World Cup Qualifying - Asia | Third Round

Nov 14, 2024 at 12am UK

UAEvs.Kyrgyzstan

Match preview

The home side lost 1-0 to Uzbekistan in their last qualifier on 15 October, although it should be noted that the only goal they conceded was a penalty in the 76th minute, awarded 11 minutes after the UAE had been reduced to 10 men.

The United Arab Emirates will have been disappointed by the 1-1 draw with North Korea in their previous match on 10 October, given that their opponents are currently ranked 111th in the world by FIFA, 45 places below Al Abyad.

Paulo Bento's side have only qualified for one World Cup in their history, the last time being in 1990.

Bento will be concerned that his side have lost two of their last four matches, drawing one and winning the other.

The UAE have also failed to register a win in their last three home games, although they did win seven of their previous eight matches at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.

Opponents Kyrgyzstan beat North Korea 1-0 on 15 October thanks to an 11th-minute goal from Christian Brauzman, and despite having just 39% of the possession, they managed to prevent North Korea from creating any real chances.

The visitors lost 3-1 to Qatar on 10 October, a game in which they created five good chances but failed to create any of their own.

Coach Maxim Lisitsyn's side have kept just two clean sheets in their last 15 matches, conceding 22 goals in the process.

Lisitsyn's side did beat North Korea last time out, but that victory was preceded by three consecutive defeats and two stalemates.

Kyrgyzstan's away form has been poor for some time as they have lost 12, drawn three and won just one of their last 16 away matches.

Recent Performance

United Arab Emirates World Cup Qualifying - Asia form:WDWLDL

Kyrgyzstan World Cup Qualifying - Asia form:DDLLLW

Team News

The hosts are likely to stick with goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, who could start at the back behind Zayed Sultan, Khalifa Al-Hammadi, Mohamed Omar Al Attas and Abdulla Idrees.

Abdullah Al Menhali will be unavailable after receiving a red card against Uzbekistan, so Marcus Meloni could be joined in midfield by Isam Faiz for the UAE.

Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan could name centre-backs Christian Brauzman, Eldiyar Zarypbekov and Valeriy Kichin in front of goalkeeper Erzhan Tokotaev.

Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov is likely to be paired with Alimardon Shukurov in a double pivot, while Gulzhigit Alykulov could start up front.

Possible starting lineup

United Arab Emirates possible starting lineup:

Eisa; Sultan, Al-Hammadi, Al Attas, Idrees; Faiz, Meloni; Suhail, Alzaabi. Alghassani; Canedo

Kyrgyzstan possible starting lineup:

Tokotaev; Brauzman, Zarypbekov, Kichin; Zhyrgalbek, Abdurakhmanov, Shukurov, Kenzhebaev; Merk, Alykulov, Kojo