Abu Dhabi: The UAE will face Bahrain in a crucial encounter at 8 Monday night for a chance to make it to the semi-final of the 20th Gulf Cup in Yemen from the second group which also features Iraq and Oman who will play against each other at the same time with the same objective.
Iraq leads the group with four points from two matches followed by Oman and the UAE with two each while Bahrain have one point. Iraq needs to win or draw to secure their berth in the semi finals irrespective of the result of the other match. They can reach the second round also if they lost while the UAE and Bahrain drew.
The UAE need to win to reach the semi finals irrespective of the result of the other match while they can also advance if they drew and Iraq beat Oman.
Oman need to win to secure a semi final berth or to draw and wait for Bahrain to hold the UAE in a goalless draw.
Bahrain need to win and wait for Oman to beat Iraq.
Balance
The four teams of the group are well balanced and all results are expected as they have proved from the results of the matches of the group which three of them ended in ties while only Iraq has succeeded in registering the only victory when they beat Bahrain 3-2.
The UAE despite succeeding in keeping a clean sheet against Iraq, the defending Asian Champions, and Oman, the reigning Gulf Cup holders, they failed to score in two matches and squandered all the chances they got.
Tonight they have to score to win the encounter and advance to the semi finals.
Srecko Katanec, the head coach of the team, have tried two combinations in attack. In the first match he paired Ali Mabkhoot with Saeed Al Kass and in the second he brought in Sultan Bargash to play alongside Al Kass and later used Ahmad Juma.
Bahrain have no other way than to win the match and even that might not be good enough for them to reach the semi final if Oman beat Iraq.
