We committed suicide: UAE coach after Asian Cup defeat

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2004

JINAN, China (AFP) — The United Arab Emirates' coach blamed suicidal defending for their worst possible start to the Asian Cup -- a 3-1 loss to fierce local rivals Kuwait.

Aad de Mos said he had warned his defenders any more slip-ups would see them left on the bench after a first-half penalty and an embarrassing own goal left the UAE with a mountain to climb.

Veteran Kuwaiti striker Bashar Abdullah had earlier opened the scoring against the run of play with a 25th-minute strike.

"For the second goal the defender took too much risk -- he should have put it out of the stadium," de Mos said Tuesday.

"The third goal was a mix-up between the defender and the goalkeeper so we gave two goals away ourselves."

"For the next game it's easy -- you tell...