Special flight for Gulf Cup
dubai — As instructed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, on Wednesday announced the airline will operate a special A380 flight to Kuwait for UAE supporters to attend the final of the Arabian Gulf Cup. —
The UAE beat Iraq 4-2 via penalty shootout to enter the final of the 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait City on Tuesday late night. And, now the UAE, eyeing their third Cup crown, will meet Oman in the final to be held at the Jaber International Stadium on Friday.
After 120 minutes of normal and extratime failed to find a winner, it was turn of the shootout.
The UAE stars Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Khamis Esmaeel and Mohamed Al Menhali were all on target against the ‘Lions of Mesopotamia’. Meanwhile, Iraq’s Saad Abdul Amir and Amjad Attwan netted but UAE keeper Khalid Eisa dived to his right to block Alaa Zahra and Humam Tariq blasted way over the bar.
The UAE meant business with strikers Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil in the lineup. The match was tactical and physical in equal measure. There were some 15 fouls in the first phase of play. Iraqi players, as expected, kept a tab on Omar.
And high stakes in the clash meant there was no let up from either side. In 15 minutes, a free kick into the box from Omar had Habib Fardan and keeper Jalal Hassan throw themselves in the line of fire. There was a good delay in play as the goalkeeper needed medical attention.
Attempts on goal were hard to come by as midfielders orchestrated proceedings only to be denied by defenders at the point of final assault. The UAE had at least three clear attempts on goal. There was a good chance missed as Al Menhali dashed through the right flank dribbling past defenders but was denied by the post. The striker could have passed onto Ali Mabkhout who was unchecked. On another occasion, Mabkhout controlled the cross well to dodge past defenders but ended with a frail shot.
Iraq had their moments and came close through a header by Ali Bahjat but it lacked power and keeper Eisa was up to the task. With 20 minutes to go, there was Alberto Zaccheroni’s last throw of dice as Ismail Al Hammadi replaced Khalil. In the last minute of normal time, Mabkhout had the best chance to score but the Al Jazira striker couldn’t get his placement right. There were more misses by strikers and top saves by defenders as extra-time too failed to find a breakthrough. Iraq came the closest with Zahra’s header but was denied by an alert Mohanad Salem as the UAE enjoyed the rub of the green.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com