The United Arab Emirates kicked off their 27th Arabian Gulf Cup campaign with a dominant performance, defeating Yemen 4-0 in their opening Group B match at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah. This impressive victory marks a strong start for the UAE under the leadership of new coach Zlatko Dalic.
Nicolas Gimenez was the standout player, scoring the first goal in the 26th minute and adding another six minutes after halftime to secure a brace. The UAE capitalized on their momentum when Yemen defender Nader Sahal inadvertently scored an own goal just ten minutes after the opening goal. Luan Pereira contributed to the UAE’s commanding lead with a third goal before the break.
The statistics reflected the UAE’s control of the match, with the team maintaining 61 percent of possession and registering 12 shots. Conversely, Yemen struggled to make an impact, managing only two attempts, neither of which threatened the goal.
The UAE aims to build on this success as they prepare to face Bahrain on September 27 and Qatar on September 30 in their remaining Group B matches. With the top two teams from the group advancing to the semifinals, the UAE is focused on continuing their pursuit of a third Gulf Cup title, having previously won the competition in 2007 and 2013.