FIFA Arab Cup
The stalemate means UAE are level with Kuwait - their opponents on Tuesday - on one point with Egypt one ahead. The African side face already qualified Jordan in their final match.
Egypt settled the quicker of the two sides, carving out a chance in the fifth minute when Ghanam Mohamed’s glancing header drifted over the bar following Mostafa Saad’s cross.
The early pressure kept the Emiratis pinned as Egypt probed relentlessly for the opener, but were unable to find the target with their flurry of half-chances.
UAE finally came alive in the 33rd minute when Yahya Alghassani sent a neat through ball to Bruno, who slipped past two defenders before seeing his grounded attempt blocked by Egypt keeper Mohamed Bassam.
Egypt continued to threaten from set-pieces, with another narrow miss in the 41st minute with Yassin Marei seeing his glancing header sail just wide off the right post.
The second half saw a more adventurous UAE with Marcus Meloni and Alghassani both failing to find the target but Egypt began to show and Cosmin Olaroiu’s side took the lead at the hour mark.
Alghassani initiated the move from his own half, teeing up Nicolas Gimenez, whose cutback found Caio Lucas, who struck from close range to open the scoring.
UAE came close to doubling their lead in the 84th minute but Meloni saw his curling set-piece just sail over the bar.
That was to prove costly as Egypt drew level in the 85th minute after Karim Eraky sent a pin-point cross for Marwan Hamdy to head home the equaliser to leave UAE on the brink of elimination.
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images
