MUSCAT // Saudi Arabia and Qatar played out a scoreless draw in their Gulf Cup Group B match at the Police Stadium in Wattaya to leave the UAE at the top of the points standings after the first round. The game was played at a furious pace and had plenty of action but neither side could break the deadlock although both came close on a few occasions. In fact, neither team may be unsatisfied with a point with their remaining matches against the lower-ranked pair of the UAE and Yemen. Qatar's Khalfan Ibrahim made a daring run but only succeeded in a weak shot at the goal early in the game and Hussain Yasir Mohammadi failed to beat the Saudi goalkeeper Waleed Abdulla after Sebastian Soria had him set up inside the area three minutes from the break. For Saudi Arabia, the forward Yasir al Qahtani hit wide from a free kick and Ahmed al Faridi's shot, that ended a fine move from the Saudis, was smothered by Abdulla Obaid Koni. Both teams missed golden opportunities to break the deadlock. Al Fahidi, unmarked on the left side of the box, failed to get a good connection and made it easy for the Qatari keeper Mohammed Saqar to hold on. On the 77th minute Khalfan Ibrahim had a wonderful chance for Qatar but blasted a close-range shot over the crossbar. The game kept a high tempo with the possession changing and the action shifting from one end to the other like a pendulum until the final whistle.
apassela@thenational.ae
