The United Arab Emirates kicked off their 27th Arabian Gulf Cup campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over Yemen in their opening Group B match at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah. This decisive win marks a promising start for the UAE under new coach Zlatko Dalic.
Nicolas Gimenez set the tone for the UAE’s dominance by scoring the opening goal in the 26th minute. The team capitalized on their momentum when Yemen’s defender Nader Sahal inadvertently scored an own goal just ten minutes later. Luan Pereira further extended the UAE’s lead by adding a third goal before the half-time whistle.
Gimenez continued his impressive performance by completing his brace just six minutes into the second half, cementing a comfortable four-goal lead for the UAE. The match statistics reflected the UAE’s superiority, as they controlled 61 percent of possession and attempted 12 shots, while Yemen managed only two attempts, neither of which were on target.
Looking ahead in the tournament, the UAE will face Bahrain on September 27 and then Qatar on September 30 in their final Group B match. The top two teams from the group will progress to the semifinals. The UAE aims to capture their third Gulf Cup title, having previously won the competition in 2007 and 2013.