JEDDAH: The stage is set for the semifinals of 19th Arabian Gulf Cup Championship after two days’ rest in Muscat today.
In the first match at 5 p.m. Saudi time, host Oman, winner of Group A, will face Qatar, the runner-up from Group B. The second match at 8 p.m., features Saudi Arabia, Group B topper, will come face-to-face against their long Gulf Cup rival and nine-time winner Kuwait, who finished second from Group A.
Favorites Oman is one step away from entering the final, which they are dreaming of and are hoping for history to be re-written when they face Qatar in a do-or-die match. For Omanis, they will accept nothing less than a win from their team.
Oman entered the final twice before but lost on both occasions to Qatar and the UAE, respectively.
Oman will be hoping to see that they enter the final this time and win the cup, which has been eluding them.
Oman reached the last four after topping Group A with seven points. They tied the first match against the UAE, won the second against Iraq and defeated Bahrain in the final match of their group.
Qatar came second from Group B after they drew the first two matches against Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Qatar won their last match against Yemen in the nick of time scoring the winner in the 90th minute to qualify to the semis.
Qatar won the championship in 1992 and 2004 on home soil.
Saudi Arabia will face their neighbors and archrivals Kuwait in the other semifinal.
Saudi Arabia won the Gulf Cup in 1994, 2002, and 2003 while Kuwait did the same in 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996 and 1998. Saudi Arabia will be looking for their fourth title if they enter the final.
Saudi Arabia qualified for the semifinals with seven points from two wins against Yemen and the UAE and a draw against Qatar. Kuwait qualified for the semis with five points with two draws against Oman and Iraq and a win against Bahrain. Saudi Arabia has a strong attacking lineup led by Yaser Al-Qahtani, Malek Muaz and will try to wrap up the match early by going into the offensive.
The Kuwaiti side has gone from strength to strength in this tourney and gained confidence in their group matches. They begin as underdogs and will try to upset their more fancied rivals, as they have nothing to lose.
