The win put UAE in the second place in the Group F with six points but they have better goal difference than Uzbekistan who also have six points.

To reach the second round UAE must beat Uzbekistan next month and win one point from South Korea who top the group with 12 points after beating Uzbekistan 1-0 yesterday.

UAE meet them in an away match in June.

Yemen played with 10 men after Lebanese referee Mohammad Mansour sent out Akram Al Warathi in the 52nd minute.

UAE dominated the match as Yemen packed at their backline and relied on counter attacks. It didn’t work as the UAE defence kept them at bay most of the time.

UAE lost several sitters in the first session which ended goalless. They attacked all the time, but lacked the good finish.

Faisal Salim who came at the start of the second session added more fire to the UAE strikeforce. He crossed from the right flank with the Yemeni defender Zahir Farid diverting the ball into his own net to open the score for UAE in 48 minute.

Amir Mubarak scored the second goal in the 55th minute with a spectacular drive from 25 metres that went straight to the roof of the net. UAE could have added more goals, however Faisal, Nasib and Ahmad Khamis lost many scoring chances in front of the Yemeni goal.

Yemen goalkeeper Mohammad Ayashi was busy most of the second session.