KUWAIT CITY: Oman were crowned Gulf Cup champions for the second time in their history after a dramatic 5-4 penalty-shootout win over neighbors UAE in the final at Kuwait’s Jaber International Stadium.
UAE hero Omar Abdulrahman turned villain as he missed a penalty in the dying minutes of normal time before missing the decisive fifth spotkick to gift Oman the trophy.
Both sides started cautiously, with Abdulrahman’s attempt to find Ahmed Khalil with a chipped pass behind the Omani defence the only memorable bit of action of the opening exchanges.
Pim Verbeek’s Oman side posed the greater threat throughout the first period, especially at set pieces. Mohsen Johar’s deliveries were on point as he first found Fahmy Saeed from a corner kick in the 20th minute and then Ahmed Mubarak from an angled free-kick two minutes later. But both failed to direct their headers into the net.
There were to be no goals in the first-half as Ali Mabkhout’s effort from the edge of the box flew above Fayez Al-Rashidi’s cross bar.
The second period started at a much higher pace as Jameel Al-Yahmadi came within a whisker of becoming the first player to get past Khaled Eisa in the UAE goal this tournament. The winger went on a slaloming run, skipping past three Emirati players before trying to finish from a tight angle. His shot grazed the upright and went out for a goal-kick just three minutes after the restart.
The UAE responded instantly with Mohamed Al-Menhali crossing from the left for Abdulrahman whose header came agonizingly close.
There was to be late drama, however, as the UAE were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes after Mabkhout was pushed from behind inside the box.
With two minutes left, the UAE thought they were about to repeat their opening-match victory over their southern neighbors, but goalkeeper Al-Rashidi produced a fine save, diving low to his right to push away Abdulrahman’s spot kick and take the match into extra time.
As with the previous 90 minutes the extra 20 produced little action of note. Oman left-back Ali Al-Busaidi crossed for Al-Hajeri at the far post but the striker could not connect properly, sending his header wide after 10 minutes. Minutes later, Eisa denied Oman their best chance of the match as he flew to tip over Johar’s curled free kick which for a moment looked destined for the top corner.
That left it all down to penalties, and after both sides successfully converted their first four attempts, Abdulrahman had the chance to redeem himself. The UAE talisman, however, proved he has off days as he missed. Oman made no mistake next up to earn their second title and send a nation into party mode.
UAE line-up: Khaled Eisa, Ismail Ahmed, Mohanad Salem, Khalifa Mubarak (Ahmed Barman 54), Mohamed Al-Menhali, Mohamed Ahmed, Ali Salmin, Khamis Esmail (Mohamed Abdulrahman 109), Omar Abdulrahman, Ahmed Khalil (Ismail Al Hammadi 64), Ali Mabkhout
Oman line up: Fayez Al-Rashidi, Saad Suhail, Mohamed Al-Musallami, Fahmy Saeed, Ali Al-Busaidi, Ahmed Mubarak, Hareb Al-Saadi, Jameel Al-Yahmadi (Saaed Al-Ruzaiqi 78), Mohsen Johar, Raed Ibrahim (Mahmoud Al-Mushaifri 110), Khaled Al-Hajeri (Abdulaziz Al-Maqbali 117), Ali Mahmoud Hassan (Kuwait)
