Iraq’s draw with Oman sets up showdown with UAE in Gulf Cup

Iraq's Humam Tariq, left, fights for the ball against Oman's Saad Suhail during their Gulf Cup Group B football match at the Prince Faisal bin Fahad Stadium in Riyadh on November 17, 2014. AFP / FAYEShow more

Iraq are set for a showdown with the UAE for a place in the last four of the Gulf Cup of Nations after being forced to share points by a defiant Oman on Monday night.

The Iraqis took the lead in the 14th minute when Yasir Kasim volleyed home after Ali Al Habsi had scooped Ahmed Ibrahim’s header back into play, but Ahmed Kano equalised for Oman from the penalty spot in the 51st minute following a handball by Ali Adnan.

The draw leaves Iraq, who reached the final of the last Gulf Cup, with only one point from two matches and staring at an early exit from the tournament.

A victory over the UAE on Thursday is their only chance of making it to the semis, but even that might not be enough if Oman beat group leaders Kuwait.

Elsewhere, Bahrain last night dismissed their Iraqi coach, Adnan Hamad, after a poor start to their Gulf Cup campaign left them rooted to the bottom of Group A with only one point from two matches.

Their opening game against unfancied Yemen ended in a 0-0 draw, and Bahrain followed that up with a poor performance in a 3-0 loss to hosts Saudi Arabia in which they conceded two own goals.

Assistant coach Murjan Eid will now take over for the last group match against Qatar, where a win could still give them an outside chance of qualifying for the semi-final stage.

* Additional reporting by Ali Khaled

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