OMAN were last night crowned champions of the 23rd Gulf Cup following a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout victory over the UAE.
Goalkeeper Faiz Al Rushaidi was the hero for the Omanis. He made a handful of crucial saves in the contest – with the two biggest coming on spot kicks and both against star Emirati midfielder Omar Abdulrahman.
The first was on the stroke of full time and it helped send the match into an additional 30 minutes of play. The second was in the shootout when Abdulrahman stepped up to take the crucial fifth and final kick for his team.
Mohsin Al Khaldi then supplied the winning penalty for his team with a well-hit shot to the right of the net that sent the Omani faithful at Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium into celebration.
Oman, coached by Dutchman Pim Verbeek, claimed their second-ever Gulf Cup title with the result. They first won in 2009 when the tournament was played on home soil in Muscat.
UAE, who are guided by Italian Alberto Zaccheroni, finished as runners-up for the fourth time. They had reached the title clash in 1986, 1988 and 1994.
It was a heart-breaking loss for the Emiratis. They could have walked away as winners at the end of regular time after being awarded a penalty when forward Ali Mabkhout was taken down in the box by Oman’s Mohammed Al Maslami.
Abdulrahman took to the task of providing the winning strike, but his left-footed shot directed to the left of goal was brilliantly punched away by a diving Al Rushaidi.
Earlier in the contest as well as later on during extra time, but teams had chances but neither could find the finishing touch.
A Khalid Al Hajri header for Oman in the 101st minute was saved by UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, who also punched away a well-hit rocket by Al Khaldi in the 106th.
On the other end of the pitch, UAE substitute Ismail Al Hammadi hit a low shot that was just inches wide of the right post.
With 120 minutes insufficient to separate the two sides, the game headed into the decisive penalty shootout, with the Emiratis first in line. Mabkhout confidently connected on his effort to the bottom-left of goal, and teammates Ahmed Barman, Mohamed Ismail Ahmed and Mohammed Barqesh all later joining him as successful takers.
The Omanis made no mistake from the spot. Joining Al Khaldi as scorers were Abdulaziz Muqbali, Saad Al Mukhaini, Ahmed Al Mahaijri and Said Al Ruzaiqi.
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