Arabian Gulf Cup: UAE battle back to snatch draw against Qatar

Al Ghassani grabs leveller for visitors as Kuwait and Oman also share spoils in Group A opening round

UAE were held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar in the opening Group A game in the Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait on Saturday, December 21, 2024. UAEFA

The UAE came from a goal down thanks to winger Yahya Al Ghassani to grab a 1-1 draw against Qatar in their Arabian Gulf Cup opener on Saturday.

Kuwait and Oman also drew 1-1 in Group A's other game.

Akram Afif put Qatar ahead after 17 minutes from the penalty spot at the Jabar Al Mubarak Al Hamad Stadium in Kuwait before Al Ghassani struck the equaliser a minute into the first-half added time.

The UAE suffered the early setback after centre-back Khalifa Al Hammadi was penalised for a handball in the area and Qatari captain Afif stepped up to convert it straight down the middle with Khalid Essa diving to his left.

Having fallen behind, Paul Bento’s men pushed for the equaliser with a series of attacks but failed to break down the Qatari defence.

Marcus Meloni’s powerful shot at the near post was blocked by diving home goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham before Brazilian-born striker Bruno had the ball in the back of the net only for the strike to be ruled out for offside.

Al Ghassani then produced a moment of magic as he weaved past three defenders before blasting a right-footed shot into the far corner for the equaliser in first-half injury time.

The UAE continued to press in the second half but found a resolute Qatari defence hard to break down. Fabio Lima fired off a rocket from well outside the area in one of the rare occasions they had sight of goal but Barsham did well to push it out diving to his right.

Overall, the UAE had 62 per cent of possession and managed 13 shots to Qatar's two.

Bento’s side arrived for the clash on the back of victories against Qatar in their past two meetings in 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

They rallied from a goal down to overcome Qatar 3-1 in the first leg in Doha in September and trounced them 5-0 in the return leg last month, with Lima netting four times.

In the early game in Group A, Kuwait held Oman to a 1-1 draw at the Jabar Al Ahmad Stadium.

Yousef Nasser despatched a long ball from Mohamed Ghanem to the back of the net with a superb header inside the area to beat Omani goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini from the far post for a 34th-minute lead.

However, Kuwait’s joy didn’t last long as Issam Al Sabhi turned in a low cross from the right flank from Jameel Al Yahmadi for the equaliser three minutes from the break.

Oman were unlucky not to take the lead in the added time. They were denied by the crossbar twice in succession. Fawaz’s effort from a corner crashed against the bar and Al Sabhi’s shot on the rebound hit the woodwork again.

The visitors had another opportunity to move ahead as substitute Mataz Saleh failed to latch on to a cross from inside the six-yard box.