After Gulf Cup final heartache, UAE 'have to now work hard for the Asian Cup'

Around 40 fans taken to hospital in Kuwait for minor injuries after part of stadium collapses following Oman's penalty shoot-out win in final

The UAE's Ali Mabkhout vies for the ball against Oman's Khalid Khalifa Al Hajri during the Gulf Cup of Nations 2017 final at the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Stadium in Kuwait City. Yasser Al Zayyat / AFP

The UAE's Omar Abdulrahman, centre, vies for the ball against Oman's Ahmed Mubarak. Giuseppe Cacace / AFP

Oman, in red, battled to a 0-0 draw against UAE in the final of the Gulf Cup. Noufal Ibrahim / AFP

Oman goalkeeper Fayez Al Rusheidi saves Omar Abdulrahman's penalty in regulation time. Abdulrahaman would go on to be denied in the shoot-out as Oman won the Gulf Cup on penalties. Yasser Al Zayyat / AFP

Omar Abdulrahman missed his spot kick in the shoot-out having also failed from 12 yards during regulation time. Giuseppe Cacace / AFP

Omar Abdulrahman is dejected after missing his penalty in the Gulf Cup of Nations shoot-out against Oman in Kuwait City. Giuseppe Cacace / AFP

Oman's Khalid Al Hajiri, left, in action against UAE's Mohanad Salem. Noufal Ibrahim / EPA

Oman players celebrate after winning the Gulf Cup of Nations 2017 final. Giuseppe Cacace / AFP

Oman players celebrate after winning the Gulf Cup of Nations 2017 final on penalties. Giuseppe Cacace / AFP

Oman players celebrates their winning after the Gulf Cup of Nations. Noufal Ibrahim / EPA

Omanis celebrate in the capital Muscat. Mohammed Mahjoub / AFP

UAE defender Mohanad Salem says the players must use their Gulf Cup of Nations heartache as motivation for next year’s Asian Cup.

The national team were on Friday denied a third regional title in agonising fashion, when they lost the final to Oman on penalties after the match at Kuwait City’s Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium had finished goalless.

The UAE eventually succumbed 5-4 in the shoot-out, with Omar Abdulrahman missing the decisive penalty. It was the Al Ain playmaker's second failure from the spot on the night, with Oman goalkeeper Faiz Al Rushaidi saving his initial effort in the final minute of normal time.

It was a cruel way for the UAE, Gulf champions in 2007 and 2013, to lose the showpiece, although Oman had done enough to warrant the victory. Both sides were cheered on in Kuwait by a vociferous support, with Salem paying tribute to the many who had travelled from the Emirates for the game.

Omar Abdulrahman is dejected after missing his penalty in the Gulf Cup of Nations shoot-out against Oman in Kuwait City. Giuseppe Cacace / AFP

“We are sorry for our fans - they came here to support us, but unfortunately we couldn’t win,” the Al Ain centre-back said. “We tried to take the cup, we did our best.

“We were unlucky in this game. We had a good opportunity to finish the match at the end of normal time, in the 89th minute, but unfortunately we didn’t score. We have to congratulate the Oman national team for this tournament.”

Salem was a key member of an unwavering UAE defence throughout the team’s bid for the trophy. Playing their first competitive matches with manager Alberto Zaccheroni in charge, the UAE did not concede a solitary goal in the tournament.

However, they scored only once in five games: Ali Mabkhout's penalty in their opening group match against Oman on December 22.

“We did our best as defenders,” Salem said. “We tried everything we could in this tournament not to concede goals and we didn’t concede one. In the penalties we were unlucky.”

The UAE will now turn attention to the Asian Cup in 12 months’ time. The continent's premier competition, it takes place in the Emirates for the second time, and first since 1996, with the Football Association targeting a run to the final at least.

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Read more:

• Alberto Zaccheroni: Gulf Cup final 'step in the right direction' for UAE ahead of 2019 Asian Cup

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Zaccheroni was appointed in October – he replaced Argentine Edgardo Bauza - and given a contract through until the conclusion of the tournament. The UAE’s best finish was runner-up, on home soil 22 years ago. Last time out, they took the bronze medal in Australia.

“We have to now work hard for the Asian Cup,” Salem said. “We have to continue working with the coach and come back stronger.”

Meanwhile, Oman's Gulf Cup victory was marred somewhat by an accident directly after the match, when a glass barrier at the stadium collapsed, causing supporters to fall around three metres onto the running track that encircles the pitch.

It was reported that around 40 fans were taken to hospital, although the Kuwait Football Association later said that they were treated for only minor injuries.

Medical staff treat injured fans after a glass barrier broke at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations soccer Final match between Oman and UAE at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 05 January 2018. Noufal Ibrahim / EPA

An injured fan awaits treatment after a glass barrier broke at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations Final match between Oman and UAE at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 05 January 2018. Noufal Ibrahim / EPA

An injured fan awaits treatment after a glass barrier broke at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations Final match between Oman and UAE at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 05 January 2018. Noufal Ibrahim / EPA

Omani fans stand behind a broken glass barrier at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations 2017 final football match between Oman and the UAE at the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium in Kuwait City on January 5, 2018. Guiseppe Cacace / AFP

Omani fans stand behind a broken glass barrier at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations 2017 final football match between Oman and the UAE at the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium in Kuwait City on January 5, 2018. Guiseppe Cacace / AFP

Wounded fans await treatment after a glass barrier broke at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations 2017 final football match between Oman and the UAE at the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium in Kuwait City on January 5, 2018. Yasser Al-Zayyat / AFP

A wounded fan awaits treatment after a glass barrier broke at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations 2017 final football match between Oman and the UAE at the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium in Kuwait City on January 5, 2018. Yasser Al-Zayyat / AFP

Wounded fans await treatment after a glass barrier broke at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations 2017 final football match between Oman and the UAE at the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium in Kuwait City on January 5, 2018. Yasser Al-Zayyat / AFP

Medical staff treat injured fans after a glass barrier broke at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations Final match between Oman and UAE at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 05 January 2018. Oman won 5-4 in penalty shootouts. Noufal Ibrahim / EPA

An injured fan awaits treatment after a glass barrier broke at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations Final match between Oman and UAE at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 05 January 2018. Oman won 5-4 in penalty shootouts. Noufal Ibrahim / EPA

Medical staff treat injured fans after a glass barrier broke at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations Final match between Oman and UAE at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 05 January 2018. Noufal Ibrahim / EPA

Medical staff treat injured fans after a glass barrier broke at the end of the Gulf Cup of Nations soccer Final match between Oman and UAE at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 05 January 2018. Noufal Ibrahim / EPA