Abdalla on Target as UAE Set up Playoff with Australia

UAE's Harib Abdalla celebrates after scoring against South Korea in the World Cup Qualifier in Dubai on Tuesday night. (Reuters)
UAE's Harib Abdalla celebrates after scoring against South Korea in the World Cup Qualifier in Dubai on Tuesday night. (Reuters)
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Abdalla on Target as UAE Set up Playoff with Australia

UAE's Harib Abdalla celebrates after scoring against South Korea in the World Cup Qualifier in Dubai on Tuesday night. (Reuters)
UAE's Harib Abdalla celebrates after scoring against South Korea in the World Cup Qualifier in Dubai on Tuesday night. (Reuters)

The United Arab Emirates handed South Korea a surprise 1-0 defeat in Dubai on Tuesday to set up a playoff clash with Australia as they kept alive their hopes of a first World Cup appearance in 32 years.

Hareb Abdalla's 54th minute goal sealed a third place finish in Group A for Rodolfo Arruabarrena's side, ensuring the UAE will take on the Socceroos in a one-off meeting in Doha on June 7.

The winner of that match with then face the fifth-placed team in the South American qualifiers with a berth in the finals in Qatar at stake.

Abdalla struck against the run of play for the Emiratis, who were facing a Korean side that had not conceded a goal in their previous five qualifiers and were looking for a victory that would secure them top spot in Group A.

Striker Hwang Hee-chan hit the woodwork in the first half as the Koreans dominated but, nine minutes after the restart, Abdalla scored.

The 19-year-old, deputizing for suspended first-choice forward Ali Mabkhout, latched onto Mohammed Al Baloushi's pass and calmly stroked the ball past Jo Hyeon-woo.

South Korea hit the frame of the goal again six minutes later when Hwang Ui-jo's header clipped the top of the bar but they could not deny the UAE, who are looking to qualify for the finals for the first time since making their debut in 1990.

The Emirates finished in third place in the group ahead of Iraq, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Syria.

Abdulghani Shahad's side needed to beat the Syrians and hope the UAE lost to South Korea, only to go behind in the fourth minute when Alaa Al Dali shot into the roof of the net.

Aymen Hussein headed in an equalizer 14 minutes before the break to give his side a lifeline but the Iraqis were unable to claim a second win in the qualifiers.

Iran earned a 2-0 win over Lebanon in Mashhad through goals from Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh to ensure Dragan Skocic's side finished on top of Group A, two points ahead of the Koreans.

In Group B, Japan defender Maya Yoshida's second-half goal earned a 1-1 draw with Vietnam at Saitama Stadium as Hajime Moriyasu's World Cup-bound side brought down the curtain on their preliminary campaign.

The Japanese team, who confirmed their place at a seventh consecutive World Cup finals with victory over Australia on Thursday, were forced to fight back after Nguyen Thanh Binh's 19th minute header had given the visitors the lead.

However, Yoshida scored from close range nine minutes into the second half to earn a much-changed home side a share of the points.



Luka Modric Signs with AC Milan After 13 Seasons at Real Madrid

 Luka Modric, AC Milan's new signing, arrives at the Madonnina clinic for medical examinations in Milan, Monday, July 14, 2025. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP)
Luka Modric, AC Milan's new signing, arrives at the Madonnina clinic for medical examinations in Milan, Monday, July 14, 2025. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP)
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Luka Modric Signs with AC Milan After 13 Seasons at Real Madrid

 Luka Modric, AC Milan's new signing, arrives at the Madonnina clinic for medical examinations in Milan, Monday, July 14, 2025. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP)
Luka Modric, AC Milan's new signing, arrives at the Madonnina clinic for medical examinations in Milan, Monday, July 14, 2025. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP)

At age 39, Luka Modric is going to try and help restore seven-time European champion AC Milan to glory after one of the most disappointing Rossoneri seasons in recent memory.

The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner signed a one-year contract with Milan on Monday after saying goodbye to Real Madrid following 13 highly successful seasons in Spain. The deal includes an option for another season.

Modric grew up supporting Milan because his idol and fellow Croat, Zvonimir Boban, played for the club in the 1990s.

Modric announced in May that he was leaving Madrid after helping the Spanish powerhouse to 28 titles: Six European Cups, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four Spanish leagues, two Copas del Rey and five Spanish Super Cups.

Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season and missed out on a spot in Europe.

The Italian club rehired Massimiliano Allegri as coach after the season, replacing the fired Sergio Conceicao.

Allegri won the Italian league for the first time with Milan in 2011, then guided Juventus to five straight titles from 2015-19.

Allegri reportedly called former Madrid and Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti to ask about Modric's form. Then new Milan sporting director Igli Tare traveled to Croatia's training camp last month to seal the deal with Modric.

The deal was made before the Club World Cup but Modric couldn't join his new club until he finished playing for Madrid at the tournament in the United States.

Madrid was beaten 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals in Modric's final match with the club.