The United Arab Emirates, known as ‘Ventojo’

The United Arab Emirates, known as ‘Ventojo’, defeated Costa Rica 4-1 in their first game

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) national soccer team, under new head coach Paulo Bento, demolished Costa Rica in its first match.

The UAE (ranked 72nd in the FIFA rankings) defeated Costa Rica (ranked 46th) 4-1 in a friendly at Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb, Croatia, on Wednesday (Sept. 13).

Yahya Ghassani scored in the 16th minute of the first half and the eighth minute of the second half to earn the first-team honors.

Brazilian naturalized players Caiú Canedo Cohea and Ali Salmin also found the back of the net in the 23rd and 38th minutes.

Costa Rica could only muster one goal in the second half through defender Julio Cascante in the 19th minute.

The match marked the UAE debut for Bento, who left South Korea after failing to agree a new contract with the Korea Football Association.

Bento led the South Korean national team for nearly four years and four months leading up to the World Cup in Qatar, making him the country’s longest-serving coach in a single term.

Under Bento, South Korean soccer qualified for its 10th consecutive World Cup, and in Qatar, the team reached the last 16 of the World Cup away from home for the first time in 12 years since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

After his time with South Korea, Bento will now lead the UAE to the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in Qatar next January and February.

Competing in Group C against Iran, Palestine, and Hong Kong, Bento’s UAE could find themselves facing South Korea in some cases.

Costa Rica played Saudi Arabia in a friendly on Sept. 9, which South Korea beat 1-0, and won 3-1.

Costa Rica also drew 2-2 with the Bento-led South Korean national team 바카라사이트 when they visited the country last September.