Oman Crowned Gulf Cup Champions

Kuwait City : Oman were crowned Gulf Cup champions for the second time in their history after a dramatic 5-4 penalty-shootout win over neighbours 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 neighbours, 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.