UAE crash out of Arabian Gulf Cup after Kuwait defeat

The UAE crashed out of the Arabian Gulf Cup on the group stage on Tuesday following a last-gasp defeat to Kuwait in Basra – their second loss in three days.

Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s facet, who opened their Group B marketing campaign on Saturday with a 2-1 defeat to holders Bahrain, have been crushed 1-0 at Al Minaa Olympic Stadium.

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Bidding for a 3rd regional crown, the UAE have been outdone by Walid Abbas’ personal purpose in injury-time, when the Emirati defender – his workforce’s captain – glanced house an Ahmad Al Dhefiri free-kick.

The consequence leaves the UAE, champions in 2007 and 2013, unable to qualify for the semi-finals by dint of their head-to-head document with the opposite sides.

In a comparatively uneventful first half, Kuwait carved the very best likelihood, when striker Shabaib Al Khaldi despatched a diving header from shut vary straight at UAE goalkeeper Khalid Essa. Kuwait had earlier had a purpose appropriately disallowed – Al Khaldi was a yard offside earlier than ultimately looping his header over Essa and into the UAE purpose.

Proper earlier than half-time, the UAE additionally went shut, however midfielder Majid Rashid couldn’t get sufficient buy on Harib Abdallah’s centre. His header was saved comfortably by Kuwait goalkeeper Sulaiman Abdulghafour.

The UAE started to dominate within the second half, with Rashid inches away from changing Khalid Ibrahim’s cross, Sebastian Tagliabue firing means off track from simply contained in the penalty space, and substitute Yahya Al Ghassani forcing Abdulghafour right into a superb sprawling save from vary.

On the different finish, Kuwait Faisal Zayid someway positioned his effort excessive over the UAE crossbar from 12 yards out, when he ought to actually have scored.

Nonetheless, there can be a closing sting within the tail, with Abbas inadvertently flicking Al Dhefiri’s set-piece past Essa three minutes into injury-time.

The UAE conclude the group in opposition to Qatar on Friday, whereas Kuwait, who opened with a 2-0 defeat to the World Cup hosts, tackle Bahrain on the similar time.

Up to date: January 10, 2023, 3:56 PM