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. Under the guidance of new coach Zlatko Dalic, the UAE demonstrated their dominance on the field, securing an impressive start to the tournament.
Nicolas Gimenez set the tone by opening the scoring in the 26th minute. The UAE’s advantage was soon doubled when Yemen’s defender Nader Sahal inadvertently scored an own goal just ten minutes later. Luan Pereira capitalized on the momentum, adding a third goal before the halftime whistle.
Gimenez continued his stellar performance by completing his brace six minutes into the second half, cementing the UAE’s four-goal lead. Throughout the match, the UAE maintained control with 61 percent possession and 12 shots, while Yemen struggled offensively, failing to register a shot on target from their two attempts.
Looking ahead in the tournament, the UAE will face Bahrain on September 27 before concluding their Group B fixtures against Qatar on September 30. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, and the UAE aim to secure their third Gulf Cup title, having previously won in 2007 and 2013.