UAE have three points with a better goal difference than Uzbekistan who also have three points. Malaysia, the third team in Group C, are without points.

The coming matches in the Asian qualifiers Group C will be held in November. Uzbekistan will play against Malaysia in Tashkent on 14 November and away on 18 November. Uzbekistan will welcome the UAE in March 2010.

In UAE’s game with Uzbekistan, the latter played with a well-organised defence, especially in the second half, to keep their narrow lead until the final whistle.

"I think we did well in the defence which was well- organised," said Mirjalal Kasymov, Uzbekistan’s coach, in the press conference held after the match.

"The UAE were not an easy team to beat particularly when playing at home. They tried everything and came very hard at us in the second half to level the score, but our strong defence denied them of any scoring chances," he said.

The UAE coach Dominique Bathenay kept his right winger Esmail Hammadi on the bench until the last seven minutes.

Bathenay when asked why he didn’t play Hammadi from the start said: "Ali Al Wehaibi who played in Hammadi’s position was ready and fit for the match as well as Hammadi, but Hammadi was not ready mentally."