It took seven matches for the 22nd Gulf Cup to finally get going in Saudi Arabia. When it did, it was in explosive fashion.
It will surprise no one that Omar Abdulrahman was the man to breathe life into a tournament that was in danger of flat-lining.
The 2-2 draw between the UAE and Kuwait, especially the first half, was out of place from what has gone on before.
The previous six matches had delivered six goals, four draws (three of them goalless) and mostly turgid football for the pitifully low crowds that have bothered to turn out.
Up stepped the man they call “Amoory” to save the day.
In the UAE’s first match he had been somewhat subdued, too often hounded by two or three players and dropping too deep to cause havoc in the Omani defence.
Against Kuwait, he was unleashed, dominating from the start. He set up the first chance for Ali Mabkhout, whose shot was blocked, as the Emiratis swarmed all over Kuwait.
It was matter of time before the breakthrough came – and it came from Abdulrahman.
Many had called for the UAE coach Mahdi Ali to relieve the playmaker of his defensive duties after the Oman match.
So it was in a way ironic that he started the move for the goal from just outside his own penalty area – a devastating run and slick pass to Mabkhout, who chipped calmly.
The second was even better.
Abdulrahman twice involved in a move that saw Mabkhout score with a brilliant curled shot.
Kuwait responded in their own devastating fashion to level the match in two minutes, Badr Al Mutawa scoring a goal every bit as good as both of the UAE’s strikes.
The Kuwaiti striker was one of the best players on the pitch, but not quite the best.
Though no more goals were scored, few could complain about the entertainment.
Except Mahdi Ali of course. His team has now dropped four points.
He will need his bushy-haired magician to pull a rabbit out of the hat in the last match against Iraq on Thursday.
akhaled@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
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Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
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US households add $601bn of debt in 2019
American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.
Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.
In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.
The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.
"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
