Ali Saleh keeps UAE top as Oman await in Gulf Cup semi final

Ali Saleh had been able to enjoy his goal against Bahrain on Sunday with the result already comfortably in the UAE’s favour. Ousmane Camara and Guilherme Bala had scored before him, and his late finish completed a convincing evening. Three days later, his next goal carried more urgency. Qatar had taken the lead, the interval was approaching and the UAE were facing their first setback of this Gulf Cup.

The opportunity came from a clearance that Qatar failed to complete. Abdulaziz Hatem’s attempted header fell into Saleh’s path, and he controlled the ball before sending a low shot beyond Mahmoud Abunada. It was the fourth minute of first half added time. Qatar had been close to taking their advantage into the dressing room, but Saleh’s finish brought the UAE level and restored their position at the top of the group.

Wednesday’s draw at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah left both sides on seven points, with the UAE ahead on goal difference. Neither needed the result to qualify, having won their opening two games. The remaining question was which semi final each would play. The UAE now face Oman on Saturday, while Qatar meet hosts Saudi Arabia, with the winners returning for the final on October 6.

The UAE had reached this match without conceding. Four goals against Yemen had been followed by three against Bahrain, giving them a strong advantage in the table as well as an early place in the last four. Qatar had also won twice and kept two clean sheets. Both coaches made changes for the meeting, with Julen Lopetegui resting Akram Afif, but the game still offered a more demanding comparison than either team’s earlier results had provided.

The UAE created opportunities before they fell behind. Luan Pereira headed over from Fabio Lima’s delivery, and Abunada saved a Lima free kick. Those moments gave the attack something to build on, although none produced the lead. Qatar found theirs in the 33rd minute, when Jassem Gaber crossed from the right and Almoez Ali slid in to finish. The UAE had been threatening at one end and were suddenly required to recover at the other.

That made Saleh’s response particularly valuable. The first two victories had allowed the UAE to keep adding to an advantage; this time they had to find a way back before thinking about a second goal. Their equaliser arrived soon enough to make the interval more comfortable. It also meant Qatar would have to score again to take first place, restoring some of the balance that had shifted with Almoez’s opener.

The UAE continued looking for a winner after the break. Qatar defended deeper and tried to threaten on the counterattack, leaving Abunada to deal with several promising Emirati attacks. Zlatko Dalic changed two of his attacking options before the hour, introducing Bruno Oliveira and Bala for Harib Suhail and Lima. Bala subsequently drew a diving save, giving the coach an example of a substitute maintaining the threat when the starting players had begun to leave the pitch.

There was continuity with the Bahrain game in those contributions. Bala and Saleh had both scored on Sunday, and both were involved in the UAE’s efforts to beat Abunada on Wednesday. The goals against Bahrain had arrived across the evening rather than in one brief burst. Against Qatar, they converted one opportunity and left others unused. That is a reasonable point for Dalic to return to without allowing a draw against the group’s other unbeaten team to obscure what the UAE have done well.

Their eight goals have come with a degree of variety, and they have now shown they can respond after conceding. A semi final will still present a different kind of pressure. There will be no advantage in the group table to preserve and no remaining fixture in which to recover a lost point. The UAE have earned a promising position, but Saturday will require them to turn another performance into a place in the final.

Oman arrive through a much more complicated route. They trailed Kuwait from early in their final group game before Nasser Al Rawahi scored twice in the second half and Musab Al Shaqsy added a third. Even that comeback did not settle qualification on its own. Oman and Iraq finished inseparable under the relevant tie breaks, and Oman advanced after a drawing of lots. Their escape gives them an opportunity they were close to losing, and their late goals are a reminder of the danger in assuming a game is settled.

There is history between the semi finalists, although little reason to pretend it predicts the result. The UAE beat Oman with the only goal of the 2007 final to win their first Gulf Cup. In January 2018, Oman took the trophy after a goalless final and a penalty shootout. Those were different squads playing at different stages of their development. What remains familiar is the prospect of one neighbour ending the other’s pursuit of the trophy.

Saturday’s meeting at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium takes the UAE back to the venue of their Bahrain victory. Saleh goes there having scored when his side were comfortable and when they needed help. His equaliser against Qatar secured the group position and gave the UAE time to prepare from a place of confidence. The next useful contribution will have to come in a match where finishing level no longer settles the question.