Saudi Arabia don reach Arabian Gulf Cup final again. E don tey since last time. Now dem back for final of Gulf 27. Na first final since 2019. Old story still dey hang over dem, pages never close. Memories dey come back whenever decisive match near. Gulf 27 give Saudi fresh chance to write different ending. Georgios Donis go lead im side out against UAE on Tuesday evening for Al-Inmaa Stadium in Jeddah. Greek coach know wetin dey at stake. Saudi want their Gulf crown back. Dem want end wait wey fans don endure since team last lift trophy.
For other semi-final, UAE beat Oman 1-0. Ousmane Camara lone strike enough. Dem go face Saudi Arabia for final. Likely capacity crowd of 60,000 for Jeddah on Tuesday night. UAE coach Zlatko Dalic talk say dem no play best match and miss chances, especially penalty, but most important na qualifying for final. He talk say match no go as he expect, but team and players secure win, and that na wetin matter most. He believe dem can perform better, improve style and create more chances. He talk say their performance for final go better.
The two teams supposed sabi each other. Towards end of last year, UAE beat Oman to reach brink of World Cup qualification for tempestuous play-off for Doha. But 11 months don pass, plenty things change. Carlos Queiroz, former Real Madrid boss wey dey charge Oman that time, don leave and coach Ghana for World Cup. UAE side get altogether new identity. Their new coach, Dalic, dey World Cup too with Croatia. Only five players remain for UAE line-up for that game against Oman for Qatar. After that, neither side qualify for World Cup.
Among new additions for this fixture for Jeddah, Guilherme Bala make first start for national team. Shabab Al Ahli winger impress in two cameo appearances as substitute so far for Arab Cup. With place for final on line, Dalic unleash am from start. Na two other new recruits combine give UAE lead midway first half. Mamadou Coulibaly, Al Jazira midfielder, curl cross from left, Camara rise head into net. Oman nearly level straight away, but Lucas Pimenta block Amjad Al Harthi shot on line.
Apart from that scare, UAE look comfortable against opponents wey dey 15 places below dem for FIFA rankings. But national team fall short of standards dem set at start of group stage. Dem rampage for wins against Yemen and Bahrain wey seal semi-final place with game to spare. Now, dem no precise. Dem suppose put game beyond Oman at start of second half, but Bala shot hit side netting. He stretch to reach cross from Marcos Meloni. Between Meloni and Gimenez for build-up, chance suppose easier. Oman show signs say dem dey fall apart, and moments later UAE get penalty when Luan Pereira fall after Bala send am through. Again, UAE waste am. Nicolas Gimenez penalty saved by Ibrahim Al Mukhaini, Oman keeper. While game stay 1-0, risk dey say Oman go strike back. But national team muddle through to give themselves shot at winning third Gulf Cup when dem face Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night.
Tournament hosts book final place after defeat Qatar 3-2 on penalties following goalless draw after extra time. Neither side find breakthrough across 120 minutes, so contest enter penalty shootout. Saudi Arabia hold nerve, with Abdullah Al Hamdan, Mohamed Kanno and Mukhtar Ali convert their penalties. Hassan Tambakti and Firas Al Buraikan miss, but e still enough to secure 3-2 victory. Final go hold Tuesday night for Jeddah.
