JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia scored an impressive 6-0 win over Yemen to top Group-B in a one-sided match yesterday of the 19th Arabian Gulf Cup soccer tournament being played in Muscat, Oman.
The Saudis thus made amends for their bad showing in their previous match against Qatar but have a crucial match against UAE on Sunday which will decide who will enter the next phase of the tournament.
Yemen on the other hand have bowed out of the tourney along with Iraq and their last match against Qatar is of no consequence.
In the earlier match, Qatar drew with the United Arab Emirates after both teams failed to score during stipulated time. Hence which team qualifies for the next round will be decided when they play their last match.
UAE knowing that a win would enable them to qualify for the next stage, rather than play the Saudis in their last match, went in search for the winner but failed to penetrate the rival defense.
With four points in their basket, the same as Saudi Arabia, UAE will have no option but go all out for victory in their last match.
Qatar too find themselves in a difficult position with two successive draws but have the consolation of playing weak Yemen in their last match.
However, if Qatar will have to win by a big margin in case the tie between Saudi Arabia and UAE ends in a draw.
In the Saudi match against Yemen, Yaser Al-Qahtani opened the scoring for Saudi Arabia in the fourth minute from a blast inside the penalty box that went under the goalie that could not block it.
Malek Muaz did not want to leave without a goal and his fine header in the 11th minute went on the left hand side of the goalie.
Abdullah Al-Shuhail scored his first goal for the national team and the third goal for Saudi in the 18th minute. By the third goal, the Yemeni defense line crumbled and the fourth goal was scored a minute after in the 19th minute by Ahmad Utaif.
Ahmad Al-Mousa scored the fifth goal to end the first half with a 5-0. Saudi Arabia came more relaxed in the second half and was not pressuring the Yemeni team to avoid injuries and to save their energy for the last match.
However, Malek Muaz completed the rout with a fine header in the 83rd minute.
Although Saudi Arabia dazzled in this match, they will have to come up with their best in the next match against UAE.
