The United Arab Emirates kicked off their 27th Arabian Gulf Cup campaign with a commanding 4-0 win over Yemen in their opening Group B match, held at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah. This victory marks an impressive start for the UAE under the leadership of their new coach, Zlatko Dalic.
The match saw Nicolas Gimenez open the scoring for the UAE in the 26th minute. The team’s lead doubled just ten minutes later when Yemen defender Nader Sahal inadvertently scored an own goal. Before the first half concluded, Luan Pereira added a third goal, further solidifying the UAE’s dominance.
Gimenez continued to shine in the second half, securing his brace just six minutes after the restart, giving the UAE an unassailable four-goal lead. Throughout the match, the UAE maintained control with 61 percent possession and registered 12 shots, while Yemen struggled to threaten, managing only two attempts that failed to hit the target.
Looking ahead, the UAE is set to face Bahrain on September 27, followed by their final Group B match against Qatar on September 30. The top two teams from the group will advance to the semifinals, and the UAE is aiming to capture their third Gulf Cup title, having previously won in 2007 and 2013.