UAE fall short as Saudi Arabia win Arabian Gulf Cup final
The UAE had their hopes of a third Arabian Gulf Cup title extinguished as they were soundly beaten by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. Early goals from Hammam Al Hammami, the outstanding young winger, and Feras Albrikan in the final were enough to give the hosts the trophy. It was a first defeat for Zlatko Dalic as coach of the UAE. For a tournament that is nominally about local bragging rights, the Gulf…
The UAE's hopes of securing a third Arabian Gulf Cup title were dashed as they faced a resounding defeat to Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. Early goals from Hammam Al Hammami and Feras Albrikan secured the victory for the hosts. This marked the first defeat for Zlatko Dalic as coach of the UAE team. The atmosphere was electric, with the 12,000 Saudi fans padding the stadium well in advance of the match, creating a formidable home support.
UAE fans, numbering 60,000, were visibly frustrated by the hostile environment, which included jeers and pyrotechnics. Despite the intimidating opposition, the UAE settled quickly in the match, with Guilherme Bala and Nicolas Gimenez creating a couple of chances. However, Saudi Arabia took control from the start, quickly seizing the advantage through Al Hammami and Albrikan.
UAE captain Khalid Essa's visibly agitated demeanor reflected the team's struggle against the relentless home support. A post from the game highlighted moments when the UAE nearly equalized, including a deflected shot by Al Hammami and a penalty for Saudi Arabia that stood after VAR review, despite UAE's protests. The match ended with Saudi Arabia comfortably retaining their lead.
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