UAE go down fighting in Gulf Cup semis

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  • Top team: Saudi Arabia footballers celebrate their win over the UAE during the semi final of the Gulf Cup.

    This was a night of intense pain for the UAE. Their Gulf Cup crown wrestled away moments after an uplifting comeback had been secured, their Asian Cup hopes in doubt following injury to Omar Abdulrahman.

    Ahmed Khalil had appeared to be the most unlikely of heroes, his second-half brace securing parity, that painfully, was not to last.

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    Mahdi Ali’s men were culpable in defeat to hosts Saudi Arabia. For the second time in less than a week, a brace of quick-fire goals were sloppily conceded.

    Those efforts from Nasser Al Shamrani and Nawaf Al Abid gave Saudi Arabia a 2-0 half-time lead.

    Khalil’s double provided the allure of added time. This was all too quickly wrestled away. Salem Al Dawsari danced around the edge of the box and fired in with four minutes to play to secure a 3-2 win for the Green Falcons.

    The absence of injured playmaker Omar Abdulrahman from much of the action was worrying. The injury problems which have severely disrupted his domestic campaign re-appeared as he hobbled off in clear discomfort on 26 minutes.

    Any further damage to his knee could see him miss January’s defining assignment in Australia.

    Against Kuwait in the group stage, the UAE were already two goals to the good when calamity struck. No such luxury was available at a disappointingly half-full King Fahd International Stadium.

    Saudi Arabia have been questioned at every turn on home soil, coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro the main target of ire. Redemption is now close at hand for the Spaniard following last night’s heart-racing 3-2 win, his team fired up by the criticism received.

    On the evidence at hand, Wednesday’s opponents Qatar should provide little threat. A first Gulf Cup title in 11 years is close.

    The grey Riyadh skies provided poor omen yesterday, a thunderous afternoon downpour greeting many of the travelling Emirati supporters.

    Their mood was hardly lifted by a disastrous opening half an hour. Khalil first provided frustration by not reacting to a chipped Omar Abdulrahman ball to the back post.

    This pain was increased when right-back Saeed Al Mowallad was given the freedom of their half to cross, the predatory Nasser Al Shamrani ghosting behind Mohamed Ahmed to convert.

    A lack of UAE pressure defined this critical spell. The punishment was doubled three minutes later.

    Right-back Abdelaziz Sanqour dawdled upon a bouncing ball, Al Shamrani sticking out a leg to play in winger Al Abid to crash in a low strike from 12 yards.

    The UAE seemed defeated foes. They then exhibited the fight of champions to get themselves back into a helter-skelter contest.

    Amer Abdulrahman curled a deep free-kick on 53 minutes which was flicked in artfully by Khalil for his first goal of the tournament.

    The Al Ahli man’s place had been questioned in Saudi; he had looked a pale resemblance of the man who was top scorer on the way to the title in 2013.

    He excelled with just more than 10 minutes to play, controlling expertly and slotting home following an Ismail Matar cross.

    There appeared to be only winner from that point, the Whites with momentum on their side. This did not countenance the ever-increasing Saudi spirit.

    Too little pressure was applied to attacking midfielder Al Dawsari on the edge of the box. Two challenges skipped, he fired in low.

    The King Fahd erupted. There was to be no more fight backs from there.

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