The United Arab Emirates kicked off their 27th Arabian Gulf Cup campaign with a dominant 4-0 victory over Yemen in their opening Group B match at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah. The UAE’s commanding performance was marked by a strong display of skill and strategy under their new coach, Zlatko Dalic.
Nicolas Gimenez set the tone for the UAE, scoring the opening goal in the 26th minute. The pressure from the UAE continued to mount, resulting in an own goal by Yemen defender Nader Sahal just ten minutes later. Luan Pereira further extended the UAE’s lead by adding a third goal before the half-time whistle.
Gimenez completed his brace shortly after the second half began, securing a comfortable four-goal advantage for the UAE. Throughout the match, the UAE controlled 61 percent of possession and registered 12 shots, while Yemen struggled to create opportunities, managing only two attempts, neither of which hit the target.
Looking ahead, the UAE will face Bahrain on September 27, followed by a match against Qatar on September 30, as they aim to progress to the semifinals. The top two teams from Group B will advance, and the UAE are in pursuit of their third Gulf Cup title, having previously won in 2007 and 2013.