Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: The UAE sealed third place at the 2014 Gulf Cup on Tuesday as Ali Mabkhout’s goal handed them a 1-0 win over Oman at the Prince Faisal Stadium in Riyadh.
Oman nearly opened the scoring against their fellow AFC Asian Cup hopefuls after only five minutes when Saeed Al Ruzaiqi’s header was tipped to safety by UAE keeper Khalid Essa.
The UAE duly responded with a Khamis Ismael shot that Oman custodian Al Al Habsi deflected onto the post in the first half’s last meaningful action.
However, the UAE were to make the decisive breakthrough on the hour mark, substitute Mohamed Abdulrahman playing in Mabkhout who fired home a right-footed shot to give his side the lead and notch his fifth strike of the tournament.
Oman rallied and came close to drawing level twice through Hussain Al Hudari and Abdelaziz Al Muqbali, but the UAE hung on to claim a morale boosting victory ahead of their their Asian Cup trip to Australia in January.
Wednesday's final will see two more AFC Asian Cup 2015 participants in the shape of Saudi Arabia and Qatar battling it out for the title.
Photo: AFP