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UAE captain Mohammed Omar (fourth from right) celebrates with his team-mates after earning a penalty while Yemeni
players argue with referee during their Group ‘B’ match of the 19th Gulf Cup at the ROP Stadium yesterday.

By A Seshagiri Rao
THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched their title defence with an unimpressive 3-1 victory over unfancied Yemen in the volatile opening match of the Group 'B' that saw both teams being reduced to ten men at the ROP Stadium in Wattayah yesterday. The defending champions, survived some tense moments, albeit briefly, in the early stages of the match to earn full points thanks to captain Mohammed Omar's sixth minute penalty and 14th and 66th minute goals by Ismail Salim and Mohammed Said. Ali Mohammed Ali Nono scored the consolation goal for Yemen in the second-half injury time.

However, it was match referee Kadhim Awadh who emerged the 'top scorer' with two reds and as many as nine yellow cards. The card-happy Iraqi official, besides flashing yellow cards at the slightest of fouls from both the teams, gave marching orders to Yemen's Mohammed Ali Mohammed and UAE's Faris Juma Hassan. Yemen's coach Mohsin Saleh blamed bad refereeing for his team's defeat saying it was referee's contentious decisions that changed the complexion of the match after his wards dominated in the initial stages. "We came into the tournament with big ambitions and we were confident of springing a few surprises. But today we were undone by bad refereeing," the Egyptian said.

"We created a few chances during the first few minutes, during which we were also unlucky to hit the post once after having the UAE defenders and the goalkeeper at our mercy," he said. "However, the penalty awarded by the referee changed the game for us and the UAE were able to play with more confidence after converting it. But I don't agree with the referee because it was a normal foul and not the one that deserved a penalty," he said. The UAE coach, Dominique Bathaney, refused to be drawn into the discussion over the refereeing saying his team did well despite earning a number of yellow cards and being reduced to ten men. "It was a difficult match as it was the first match for both teams. That pressure and nervousness showed on both teams," said the Frenchman.

"But I am happy we are able to earn three points from the game. Those points are very important." The UAE coach also praised the rivals' game. "They really troubled us in the first five minutes and then in the second session for a brief period. They had their chances but we survived and thwarted the danger. Soon the players realised that they cannot take the Yemenis lightly and played more aggressively to win the match." Bathaney also said that he has to field four to five new players, who are playing at this level for the first time, and promised a more improved performance from his boys in the remaining group matches against Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

"I will try to improve further in the coming days. I will talk to my players, especially the defenders, to tighten their game. And I am confident they will play better in the coming games," he said. The defending champions started the match rather shakily while their lowly rivals showed more aggression, going into the attack from the word go. In the first five minutes, the Yemenis created a handful of chances, worth mentioning being Ali Mohammed al Nono's run into the box which culminated in the player beating the UAE keeper Majid Nasir.  But to the disappointment of the Yemen fans, the ball ricocheted off the horizontal bar.

Action from a Group ‘B’ match between Qatar and Saudi Arabia at the ROP Stadium yesterday.

In the very next move, Muad Ali was guilty of wasting an open chance when Majid Nasir rushed out to meet a highball and completely missed it. And all Muad Ali had to do was tap the ball in but he fired wide. Those threatening moves served as wakeup calls for the UAE, who then started playing with more purpose and planning. Then came the controversial penalty. Off a move from the right the ball was crossed into the centre and UAE captain Mohammed Omar sped into the penalty area only to be pulled down by goalie Salim Abdullah Awadh. Referee pointed to the spot, after flashing yellow cards at Salim and Basim Said, the latter for arguing. Mohammed Omar coolly converted the penalty as the UAE camp a heaved sigh of relief.

Encouraged by the goal, the champions started playing more aggressive and attacking soccer, leading Ismail Salim doubling the score in the 14th minute. Mohammed Ibrahim developed the move from the right before chipping the ball into the danger zone and Ismail moved in a flash to get the better of Yemeni defenders before slotting the ball home. The Yemenis tried to fight back but found the going tough. The pressure showed on them and in an attempt to gain possession, they indulged in rough tackles, one of which resulted in Mohammed Ali Mohammed getting the marching orders. The Yemenis started the second session in the same attacking mode as they did in the first. In fact, they had the UAE citadel under seize with a series of attacks.

On one occasion, Muad Ali forced Majid Nasir to come up with a desperate diving save and then Ali Mohammed also tested the UAE goalie with a couple of dangerous shots. Even as Yemen was trying to come back into the game, the UAE coach made a change bringing in Ismail Mattar in place of Mohannad Salim in the 64th minute. The move paid off as Ismail Mattar, who chose to play in the match in spite of his father's death, controlled the midfield with aplomb and four minutes later, the UAE made it 3-0. Following a neat pass from Ismail Mattar, Abdulrahim Juma relayed the ball to Moahmmed Said, who hoodwinked his marker before firing the ball into the goal.

But the celebrating UAE were soon stunned when referee gave marching orders to Faris Juma for a dangerous looking tackle on Muad Ali. The referees continued to flash yellows, event in the dying minutes when he booked Saleh Ahmed of Yemen. But the Yemenis managed to score the consolation goal thanks to a fine effort by Ali Mohammed al Nono. In the second match of the evening, 17th Gulf Cup winners Qatar and Saudi Arabia produced a thrilling game but fail to score. The UAE will now meet Qatar on Thursday while Yemen take on Saudi Arabia on the same day.