UAE must win next game - Mattar

Muscat: UAE ace footballer Esmail Mattar said that the UAE must win tomorrow's match and secure their berth in the semifinals of the 19th Gulf Cup if they are to defend the title they won in 2007 for the first time.

"We won three points. It is only the start of our campaign and we should add another victory if we want to reach the semifinals. The victory over Yemen will have no value if we failed to win more points."

Mattar, who was the top scorer and most valuable player of the last tournament two years ago, overcame personal grief and returned to Muscat following the death of his father to do his duty for his country's team.

"All the teams are equal technically. It remains for other factors like experience, morale and a winning mentality to decide the winners of the matches and of the title. We have already proved we have a good team that combines youth, talent and experience," he said.

"Yemen were no pushovers. They have a good team, created scoring chances but their final touch was not correct. We succeeded in beating them by determination and experience and I am sure that they can still achieve a positive result in their next matches."

Mattar criticised the referee of the match against Yemen, who showed 12 players, from both teams, yellow cards and sent off two of them, one from each team.

"He exaggerated in using his cards. Most of the fouls did not need a whistle, let alone a caution. The referee was under more pressure than the players and I cannot understand why."