How UAE have done in last five Gulf Cup openers

As the UAE begin their Gulf Cup campaign on Friday night against Oman in Riyadh, Ahmed Rizvi looks back at how the team fared in their previous five opening matches at the tournament.

Ali Mabkhout scored the UAE’s winner against Qatar in the 2013 edition. Fadi Al Assaad / Reuters
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Qatar 1-3 UAE, Bahrain

Qatar took the lead against the run of play in the 11th minute when Khalfan Ibrahim won a penalty and converted it himself, but Omar Abdulrahman equalised just two minutes later. Ali Mabkhout then made it 2-1 in the 28th minute and Mohammed Ahmed’s header in the 66th minute rounded off an impressive start for the Whites.

Iraq 0-0 UAE, Yemen

A brilliant performance by Majed Naser in the UAE goal helped the Whites escape with a goalless draw against the reigning Asian champions. The UAE goalkeeper was spectacular throughout the game, especially in the final minutes, blocking Younis Mahmoud’s penalty in the 86th minute and then stopping Nashat Akram’s effort from inside the six-yard box.

UAE 3-1 Yemen, Oman

Arriving in Oman as the defending champions, the UAE were up 2-0 inside 14 minutes with Mohammed Omar and Ismail Al Hammadi striking early. Mohammed Al Shehhi then made it 3-0 against Yemen, who had been reduced to 10 men in the 31st minute when Mohammed Al Ammari was sent off. The Whites also finished with 10 men after Fares Jumaa was booked for a second time in the 68th minute.

Oman 2-1 UAE, UAE

Making a jittery start in front of their home fans, the UAE were a man down in the 27th minute with Hilal Saeed receiving a direct red. Fawzi Bashir then put Oman ahead in the 36th minute and Emad Al Hosni made it 2-0 five minutes after the break. Ismail Matar brought the hosts back into the game with his 64th-minute strike, but Oman managed to hold on to their lead.

Qatar 2-2 UAE, Qatar

With goals from Subait Khater (41st minute) and Ismail Matar (83rd minute), the UAE seemed headed for a stunning upset of the hosts, but Waleed Jassem pulled one back for Qatar with a minute left on the clock and then Wissam Rizq struck the equaliser in injury time to salvage a point for the home side, who went on to win the tournament.

arizvi@thenational.ae

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