Sport | Football
Saudi Arabia face UAE in crucial match
Despite trouncing lowly Yemen 6-0 late on Thursday, Saudi Arabia have not yet secured a seat in the semifinals from Group B and await their final match in the first round against the reigning champions, the UAE, tomorrow.
- By Yasir Abbasher, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:47 January 9, 2009
- UAE Ahmaed Dada UAE in action at the Gulf Cup. The player has said the team's fate is in their hands against Saudi Arabia.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Muscat: Despite trouncing lowly Yemen 6-0 late on Thursday, Saudi Arabia have not yet secured a seat in the semifinals from Group B and await their final match in the first round against the reigning champions, the UAE, tomorrow.
The Saudis, who failed to score in their first match against Qatar and were subject to the anger of their officials, coach, sports media and fans, bared their teeth and unfortunate Yemen were the victims.
Yasir Al Qahtani put the Saudis in the lead as early as the second minute. Within 18 minutes the match was over as the Saudis, the overwhelming favourites, scored four goals with Malek Mouaz, Abdullah Al Shaheel and Ahmad Atif adding more goals respectively.
Mouaz scored another goal and Ahmad Al Mousa completed the damage.
But Group B is still wide open. The Saudis need a single point because of their vast goal difference in their favour.
The UAE and Qatar are still in the mix while the only team who cannot make it to the last four are Yemen.
All three teams could tie on five points each if the match between Saudi Arabia and the UAE ends in a draw and Qatar beat Yemen. Goal difference and goals scored could then be used to decide who goes through.
The UAE, who settled for a goalless tie with Qatar, have no option but to win.
"Our fate is in our own hands. We know we have to win to reach the semi-finals. That is better, I believe, than having two chances because we will concentrate on winning the match and nothing more," Ahmad Dada, the team's right wingback, told Gulf News yesterday.
"We played a good match against Qatar, and although I believe the result was fair, we could have won the three points.
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