2018 World Cup qualifier: UAE stun Japan with 2-1 win

Dubai, Sep 2: Forward Ahmad Khalil scored twice to help hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) beat Japan 2-1 in a 2018 football World Cup qualifier.

Japan, four-time Asian champions, started on a positive note and took the lead through Keisuke Honda, who scored in the 11th minute with a header in front of 63,700 spectators at the sold-out Saitama Stadium here on Thursday (Sept 1).

But soon after the goal, the UAE started counter-attacking as a result forward Ahmad Khalil equalised in the 20th minute and then scored in the 50th minute to pocket the match.

IANS