Holder Oman crashes out
▶ Koeman’s Red Warriors disappoint in 1-3 loss to Saudi Arabia; Bahrain beats Kuwait 4-2 to reach semis ▶ Qatar downs UAE to finish second in Group A to set up semis date with Saudis; Yemen holds Iraq
Defending champion Oman crashed out of the 24th Gulf Cup as a disappointing performance from the Red Warriors saw it lose 1-3 to Saudi Arabia in the concluding Group B league game at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Monday night.
A lacklustre display by Erwin Koeman's side dashed its hopes for a place in the semifinals despite going into the game as group topper with four points.
Saudi Arabia's victory and Bahrain's 4-2 win over ten-time champions Kuwait in the other group game, played simultaneously, ensured that the Saudis finish the group as topper while Bahrain edged past Oman for the second spot to advance into the last-four stage.
Earlier, in the evening, hosts and fancied Qatar outplayed UAE 4-2 while Iraq played out a goalless stalemate in the Group A concluding games.
Iraq topped the group with seven points following the draw to set up a semifinal clash against Bahrain on Thursday while Qatar, which finished runner-up in the group with six points, will take on Saudi Arabia in a cracker of a contest on the same day.
Oman went into the match knowing that a draw would be enough to steer it into the knockout stages but a defensive Oman fell short of ideas on the pitch against a rival, which was more hungrier for a victory.
Saudi Arabia, coached by Frenchman Herve Renard, who made his name as a manager in African football, began on a fast note. Oman goalkeeper Faiz al Rushaidi was soon into action making a good save to tip a powerful volley from Saudi captain Salman al Faraj in the second minute of the match.
The tone of the match was set and Saudi players displayed more attacking intent than their counterparts as the first quarter saw them raid the Omani citadel a couple of times.
Oman striker Abdulaziz al Miqbali received an early caution in the seventh minute and it was only in the 21st minute that the Red Warriors had the first shy at Saudi goal but Mohsin Jawhar's header was saved by Saudi goalie Fawaz al Qarni.
And soon on a swift counter, Saudi drew the first blood as Oman players were caught napping. Al Mandhar's pass seemed to have hit the hand of Saudi's Sultan Abdulla but Belgian referee Alexandre Boucaut waved off Omani players' appeal and Feras Tariq made the most of it with a stinging left-footer from inside the box that beat Rushaidi and hit the underside of the post for the opening goal.
The referee awarded the goal after VAR was consulted and though Oman began to display some enterprise in its attacks, there was hardly any problems for the Saudi defence.
As the match headed into the break, Hatan Sultan got the second goal for the Green Brigade, this time, the Oman defence exposed again.
Mohsin Jawhar's long-ranger just before the break was the only Oman attempt as the Saudis went into the break 2-0.
Oman was more positive in the second session and had a couple of chances, as first Muhsen al Ghassani failed to make the most of a defence-splitting pass and then Ali al Busaidi's cross went abegging with Miqbali unable to reach it just in front of the Saudi goal.
Al Mandhar al Alawi, the livewire of Oman's attack, then raised hopes as he struck ten minutes into the second half.
But the Saudis put the match beyond Oman as they got the third goal two minutes later with Sultan striking a powerful shot for his second goal.
A couple of substitutions from Koeman, bringing in Said al Ruzaiqi for Ghassani and Yaseen al Sheyadi for Ahmed Mubarak 'Kanu' were unable to help Oman and even a late change by replacing Alawi by Mohammed al Ghafri did not yield any fruit.
Oman's push in the last ten minutes was too late and little as
Ruzaiqi's header with five minutes to go and Jawhar's attempt in the last minute did not do any damage to the Saudi goal.
Miqbali's header in injury time was well saved by Qarni as Saudis hung on for a deserved win.
Bahrain beats Kuwait
There was certainly excitement in the other match with Bahrain raising hopes for Oman despite it trailing against Saudis as it took lead in the first half through Ali Madan to go into the break 1-0.
However, Kuwait equalised in the 59th minute to get back into the match but Bahrain managed to take lead again and as a ding-dong battle continued.
Oman's hopes evaporated after the high-scoring game finished 4-2 in favour of Bahrain.
The scoreline meant Bahrain edged Oman on goal-difference as both teams earned four points. But the Red Warriors had four goals against and three conceded while Bahrain had four goals scored and four against for zero difference to minus one of Oman. Kuwait finished at bottom with three points.
Qatar outplays UAE
Earlier in the evening, Qatar outplayed the UAE with Akram Afif celebrating his Asian player of the year award with an opening strike for the hosts. He then got his second as he converted a penalty.
Ali Mabkhout, the UAE’s all-time leading scorer, then made it 1-2 with a spot kick of his own, but Qatar captain Hassan al Haydos made it 3-1 in the 53rd minute. Mabkhout put the UAE back in contention with his second goal, but Boualem Khoukhi ended the game as a contest
with his 94th minute goal to ensure the hosts made it to the semis, alongside Iraq, which had already sealed qualification after wins against Qatar and the UAE.
Iraq held to draw
Iraq's game against Yemen ended goalless despite the former reduced to ten men in the eighth minute after Mustafa Mohammed Jaber was sent off.
Is Koeman on his way out?
Media reports coming from Doha soon after Oman's loss, were abuzz that the national team coach, Erwin Koeman, may be on his way out.
Oman Football Association (OFA) officials remained tightlipped after the Gulf Cup exit, but Twitter and social media had critics urging the OFA to part ways with the Dutchman.
Earlier, despite Oman's 2-1 win against Kuwait on Saturday, there were reports that Koeman and captain Ahmed Mubarak 'Kanu' were at odds on sustitutions made during the match. In fact, OFA officials came out with a statement to deny the reports before Saudi game.