UAE’s Ali Mabkhout (right) celebrates with team-mate Ali Saleh after scoring against Indonesia during their World Cup 2022 Group G qualifier in Dubai on Thursday.

Mohammad Abdullah, Staff Reporter

UAE’s prolific striker Ali Mabkhout was delighted after scoring a hat-trick against Indonesia in the joint qualifiers for the

World Cup 2022 and Asian Cup 2023 match On Thursday.  With the hat-trick he also became the UAE’s all-time top scorer but insisted it is not enough and it is just the beginning of the qualifiers.

“Of course I am proud and delighted with my performance that helped my team,” said Al Jazira striker Mabkhout.

“They told me I am the top-scorer now but everyone tells me a number. I am not sure what number is that.

“I cannot describe in words how happy or how proud I am feeling, but more important aspect is that we won the game. But this one makes me a better player and encourage to score more and more - it will not be enough for me,” said the insatiable Mabkhout after the victory against a hapless Indonesia.

Mabkhout has scored nine goals across all AFC tournaments so far in the season. Mabkhout has a stellar season as before this match, he had already scored six goals.

He had netted twice in the World Cup qualifier against Malaysia and smashed four goals in six appearances in the AFC Asian Cup. He was on target in the 50th minute as he deflected a pass into the net to give the UAE a 2-0 lead after Khalil Ibrahim had opened in the scoring in the 40th minute.

The goal opened the floodgates for Mabkhout, who was on scoring spree in the second-half. He was again in the thick of the action as he netted another goal in the 63rd minute as the lead swelled to 3-0, pushing the Indonesia on the back foot completely.

In the 73rd minute, he scored another goal to complete his hat-trick, moved to 54 goals from 76 appearances for the UAE.

UAE coach Bert van Marwijk expressed his satisfaction with the performance of his young team. This was the UAE’s second consecutive win in the World Cup qualifiers after beating Malaysia exactly a month ago in an away match. Van Marwijk says his new-look UAE are on the right track with 100 per cent win record.

“I think we have almost 50 per cent of a new team, with very young players,” said Van Marwijk.

UAE put up a stellar performance in the second half as they scored four goals after the half-time to maul Indonesia 5-0.

“I am very much satisfied with the performance of the team after two wins from as many games. I think we played a good game.

“The players showed a lot of discipline on the pitch. We didn’t get a yellow card either. We had full control of the game, the only thing from the first half was the last pass. We were not stable and secure enough with the through-ball.

“In the second half, we were much better. We scored four goals. I am satisfied and very happy,” said the Dutchman.

Van Marwijk likes to play firebrand football and put his faith in younger players. He chose the same starting line-up as against Malaysia. In Kuala Lumpur, four of the XI made their competitive debut.

“Young players can become better players when they train,” Van Marwijk said.

“That is always a selection headache for a coach. On one side you want to give the young players a chance to perform at this level. On the other side, you also want to win the crucial games.”

He also played down the talks of over-reliance on Mabkhout, who has scored five goals in two games at the World cup qualifiers.

“It is not the one player but the performance of the whole team. It is not only Mabkhout but Khalil Ibrahim Al Hammadi also played well. He is the one who broke the deadlock.

“All the guys played well, we are very organsied and the transition was good. They executed the game plan very well. So it is not about one player but the whole team,” conclude the coach.

Meanwhile, Indonesian coach Simon McMenemy, 41, oversaw a third loss from three qualifiers, after also being downed by neighbours Malaysia and Thailand.

He said: “I think we have lost to a very good team. They are not just a good team, they are a very well-conditioned team.

“Such are the difficulties that we face. Similar things have happened for three games in a row.

It is a difficult situation. But in terms of the effort the players put into the game, every player gave everything he had in the tank – and probably a bit more.

“When you see your players give 100 per cent, you can’t complain. Mistakes do happen, especially when you are tired and fatigued from a long season.”

He also complained about the tight schedule, saying players did not get enough time to get acclimatize to the conditions.

“We arrived here just two days before the game. Play

ers had to take flight hours after playing in the domestic games that led to fatigue. But I don’t want to talk about all this things as they are just excuses,” he added.