Tunisia players celebrate after the match.
Doha: Seifeddine Jaziri’s 10th-minute strike sealed a nervy win, and a spot in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 as Tunisia beat the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Al Thumama Stadium yesterday.
The loss means the UAE will face Qatar in the quarter-finals, a repeat of the Asian Cup semi-final, which the Emiratis lost to Al Annabi on their way to a maiden continental trophy.
The Carthage Eagles qualify as Group B leaders on better goal difference, with the UAE as second after Mauritania bagged an upset 2-1 win over Syria, who needed a win to knock out one of the two heavyweights.
Tunisia had started the tournament on a high note with a convincing 5-1 thrashing of Mauritania in the opener. However, a disappointing loss to Syria had put their hopes of qualifying on the knife-edge.
Hit by injuries and COVID-19 to crucial players, the North African giants were headed for an upset group stage exit, but the 2004 African Cup of Nation champions managed to hold off the UAE in the deciding match.
The Emiratis knew a draw would be enough to see them through as group leaders, but Tunisia started more proactive and soon reaped the reward after 10 minutes.
Al Arabi striker Youssef Msakni ran through the UAE defence before the ball fell kindly to Jaziri, who made no mistake slotting home from close range, despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.
The UAE tried to respond almost immediately, but Ali Saleh’s shot was pushed over the bar by Mouez Hassen. Tunisia almost made it two, but Eisa made back-to-back saves to keep the Emiratis in the tie.
Msakni was gifted an opportunity to ease the pressure on Tunisia, but the forward’s lob was easily cut out after Ali Salmin’s back pass caught Eisa in no man’s land.
Just before halftime, Jaziri missed a glorious chance to extend the lead, hitting his shot onto the outside of the post after good work from Mohammed Drager down the right. Hassen was called upon in the second half, and the Tunisian managed to push away a goalbound header for a corner.
Jaziri had to be replaced by Fakhreddine Ben Youssef after he appeared to pull his hamstring. Substitute Ben Youssef got himself into a good position, but his header flew harmlessly wide.
Ben Youssef again sent a tame header straight at the UAE goalie before youngster Hannibal Mejbri came off to a rousing ovation from the Tunisian crowd with 10 minutes left in the game replaced by Mohamed Ben Arbi.
Meanwhile, veteran UAE star Ismael Matar came on for the last few minutes for his 134th cap international cap. Matar had not played for the UAE since 2019.
Despite his introduction, Tunisia continued to press and caught the UAE defence napping, but Ben Youssef again could only shoot straight at the goalkeeper.
Mahmoud Khamis almost stole a point for the Emiratis, but his long effort fizzled away from the goal at the last second.
Speaking after the match, Msakni said the important thing was to give joy to the fans.
“Today is a great joy, we qualified, and we hope that the joy will be complete when we reach the final. Against Syria, we had chances, though we didn’t take them, but today, we created four to five chances and scored a goal, which was enough to qualify us.”
