JEDDAH, 16 December 2004 — Host Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Iraq all take the field today with the same mindset: to try and clinch the second qualifying spot during the concluding Group A matches in the 17th Gulf Cup Soccer Championship in Doha.
To prevent any team from deliberately losing for tactical gain, organizers are to simultaneously stage the two matches pitting Iraq against UAE and Oman against Qatar at 5:30 p.m. Saudi time.
Oman are already qualified for the semifinals with six points from two matches, and whatever the results of today’s games they will emerge the top team from the group.
But Qatar need to win if it were to qualify regardless of the result of the other match. Qatar have two points from two draws - 2-2 against UAE and 3-3 against Iraq.
Iraq and UAE face a must-win match in a virtual war of attrition between them. Both teams have one point after the UAE drew 2-2 against Qatar and lost 2-1 to Oman and Iraq drew 3-3 against Qatar and were beaten 3-1 by Oman.
A Qatar win sends the hosts straight into the next round with Oman. If Qatar drew with Oman, the team will have the chance of qualifying contingent on Iraq and UAE drawing their match, too.
Earlier, Oman’s coach Milan Macala said in a press conference that he would consider his match against Qatar a warmup for the semifinals.
He said he intends to use the second liners and give rest to his stars while awaiting the match against the second place of Group B in the crossover semifinals.
Adnan Hamad, Iraq coach, hopes that Oman would play to defend their reputation as a strong team against Qatar. He hopes that there will be no collusion in the match or anything that would ruin the reputation of the Gulf Cup.
Meantime, in Prince Faisal ibn Fahad Under 23 Soccer Tournament, both Al-Hilal and Al-Riyadh of Riyadh qualified for the semifinals.
Riyadh qualified after Nasr drew 4-4 against Ittihad at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal stadium in Jeddah.
Hilal qualified after their win against Wehda of Makkah 2-1 at prince Faisal ibn Fahad stadium in Riyadh. In the semifinals, Al-Ahli will play against Al-Ittifaq next Saturday in Jeddah and Hilal will face Riyadh in Riyadh next Sunday.
