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 at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah. This impressive victory marks a strong start under new coach Zlatko Dalic.
Nicolas Gimenez put the UAE ahead in the 26th minute, followed by a fortuitous own goal from Yemen defender Nader Sahal ten minutes later. Luan Pereira extended the UAE’s lead with a third goal just before the halftime whistle.
Gimenez secured his brace six minutes into the second half, solidifying the UAE’s dominance with a comfortable four-goal lead. Throughout the match, the UAE demonstrated superior control, maintaining 61 percent of possession and recording 12 shots, while Yemen struggled to make an impact with only two attempts that failed to hit the target.
Looking ahead, the UAE will face Bahrain on September 27 and then meet Qatar on September 30 in their final Group B match. The top two teams from the group will advance to the semifinals, and the UAE are aiming for their third Gulf Cup title, having previously won in 2007 and 2013.