DUBAI: Ali Khaled, our man on the ground, takes a look back at the finals the UAE and Oman previously competed in...
2007 — UAE 1-0 OMAN: The UAE had never won the cup before and got off to the worst possible start with defeat to Oman in Abu Dhabi. But led by the brilliant Ismail Matar, they built up momentum as the tournament progressed and memorably beat Kuwait 3-2 with a last minute winner. After Matar scored another injury time winner against Saudi Arabia in the semifinal at Zayed Sports City stadium, the stage was set for the Emiratis to grab their first title. A close final against Oman was ultimately settled with yet another goal by Matar, a low right footed drive beating Ali Al-Habsi to his right on 72 minutes. The win sparked wild celebrations across the Emirates with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum leading a triumphant parade in Dubai.
2009 — OMAN 0-0 SAUDI ARABIA (6-5 on penalties): Having lost the 2004 and 2007 finals to Qatar and the UAE respectively, this was a case of third time lucky for Oman, who won their one and only Gulf Cup in front of their own fans. Oman made it to the semifinal without conceding a goal and maintained that record with 1-0 win over Qatar thanks to a Hassan Rabia winner. The final against Saudi Arabia was scoreless after 120 minutes, and a packed Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex held its breath as the match went to penalties. The first 10 penalties were all scored before the Green Falcons’ Taiseer Al-Jassim drove his spotkick wide of Al-Habsi’s right post. Rabia stepped up to take the most important kick in Omani football history, and seconds later a nation rejoiced as history was made in Muscat.
2013 — UAE 2-1 Iraq (after extra-time): The match that gave birth to the second UAE golden generation. The majority of the squad that had excelled at the 2012 Olympic Games in London had made the step up to the senior squad along with their avuncular coach Mahdi Ali. Led by the superlative Omar Abdulrahman, aided by the twin strike force of Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout, the UAE charmed the watching public as they reached the final to face Iraq, though it took a 90th minute goal by Khalil to finally shake off Kuwait in the semifinal. In the final at Bahrain National Stadium, Abdulrahman scored a fine solo goal, via a deflection, before Iraq’s Younis Mahmoud leveled with nine minutes to go. It was left to substitute Ismail Al Hammadi to score the winner in the 107th minute to give the Whites their second title.