In the end, the glory went to Qatar, the 2014 Gulf Cup champions after a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Wednesday night.
A tournament that started slowly, ultimately ended with a match worthy of a final. For that, both coaches deserve credit.
Djemal Belmadi and Juan Ramon Lopez Caro received relentless criticism throughout the tournament, but on Wednesday sent their teams out to attack.
From the first whistle, Qatar came flying out of the traps. With less than three minutes gone on the clock, they almost made the breakthrough after a cleverly worked free-kick from Hasan Al Haydos found its way to Karim Boudiaf on the edge for the six yard, but he shot wide.
The Saudi response was decisive. From a 16th-minute corner by one of Saudi Arabia’s semi-final heroes, Nawaf Al Abid, Saud Kariri sent a firm header past Qasem Burhan into the Oman goal.
The joy in the stands lasted barely a minute. Al Haydos’s corner was flicked on by Almahdi Ali to level the score almost immediately.
Salem Al Dawsari, who scored the superb semi-final winner over the UAE, almost regained the lead for the Saudis when he broke into the Qatari box, but with only the goalkeeper to beat, he clipped his shot beyond the far post.
The second half started just like the first, on the front foot. The Saudis were being pressed across their back line and often resorted to simply clearing the ball out of touch.
Yet, Qatar continued to be wasteful from several dead-ball situations from promising positions, with Al Haydos guilty of some dismal deliveries.
That changed on 58 minutes when he finally found his range with a long-range free-kick, which was cleared only as far as Boualem Khoukhi, who scored on a superb volley past Walid Ali.
The home fans were stunned, and their team had to once again come from behind.
Qatar pressed in the final third, and the Saudis were reduced to long-range shots and crosses that Qasem Burhan claimed easily.
The Saudis had no option but to attack, but it was Qatar who continued to have the better chances.
Burhan calmed Qatari nerves with his safe handling of the few crosses that troubled him, but he went into the book for time wasting with just over 10 minutes left.
There would be one final piece of drama when Saudi Arabia were denied a penalty, but replays proved the referee correct.
akhaled@thenational.ae
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