In the semifinal on Thursday, Iraq battles Kuwait and UAE faces Saudi Arabia.
UAE silenced the doubters and defeated battling Bahrain 3-1 in an exciting match. UAE was first to score from Subait Khater in the fourth minute of the match. Fares Juma gave UAE the second goal four minutes later shocking Bahraini fans.
Bahrain, whose only option was to win in order to advance, kept its hopes alive in the 35th minute when Abdullah Fatay blasted a fine shot from inside the penalty box into the back of the net to cut UAE's lead to 2-1 at the interval.
Bahrain pushed forward hoping to score the equalizer only for Ahmed Juma to kill its hopes when he netted UAE's third goal in the 64th minute.
UAE qualified first of Group B with five points to draw the second of Group A, Saudi Arabia, in the crossover semis.
Iraq tied UAE on five points but qualified second of Group B on goal difference after a 0-0 draw against Oman in the other match of the day.
This was the third draw for Oman, which failed to win any match in the group.
