Lima Misses Penalty Against Oman, Ending UAE’s Semifinal Hopes in Gulf 26
The UAE national football team was eliminated from the 26th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup (Gulf 26) after drawing 1-1 with Oman in their final group-stage match on December 28, 2024, in Kuwait. This marks the third consecutive time the UAE has failed to progress past the group stage in the Gulf Cup, continuing a disappointing trend from the last two editions in Gulf 24 and Gulf 25.
A Late Missed Opportunity
The match started with the UAE taking an early lead thanks to Yahya Al-Ghassani in the 20th minute. He finished off a well-placed cross from Khaled Al-Dhanhani, putting the UAE ahead. However, Oman responded strongly, and after multiple attempts, Abdulrahman Al-Mushayfari equalized in the 79th minute with a low shot that beat UAE goalkeeper Khaled Issa.
The UAE had the chance to secure all three points when they were awarded a penalty in stoppage time after Tahnoun Al-Zaabi was fouled by the Omani goalkeeper. But Fabio Lima, who had been a key player throughout the match, missed the penalty, with the Omani keeper making a crucial save. This miss sealed the UAE’s fate and confirmed their exit from the tournament.
A Strong Start, but Defensive Lapses Cost the UAE
The match began with a strong attacking intent from the UAE. In the 3rd minute, Yahya Al-Ghassani tested the Omani goalkeeper with a powerful shot that was deflected for a corner. Oman quickly countered, and Al-Mundhir Al-Alawi had a good chance, firing a shot from outside the box that was well saved by Khaled Issa.
The UAE continued to press, with another opportunity falling to Bruno Oliveira, whose shot was saved by the Omani keeper. Despite this, the UAE was unable to capitalize on these chances, and Al-Ghassani almost scored earlier when he missed a cross from Yahya Al-Ghassani, with the goal gaping.
Finally, in the 20th minute, Yahya Al-Ghassani managed to convert a superb cross from Khaled Al-Dhanhani. The ball drifted past the Omani defenders, allowing Al-Ghassani to find the back of the net and give the UAE a 1-0 lead.
However, despite the early lead, the UAE was unable to hold on to the advantage as Amjad Al-Harthi of Oman handled the ball in the box, but the Bahraini referee Ammar Mahfoud waved off any claims for a penalty and did not consult the VAR.
Second Half Struggles and Omani Equalizer
The UAE seemed to adopt a more defensive approach in the second half, opting to play on the counter. Meloni had a chance in the 55th minute, but his shot went over the crossbar. Later, Meloni was brought down in the box by Amjad Al-Harthi, but again the referee took no action.
The UAE’s best chance in the second half came from Yahya Al-Ghassani, whose long-range shot narrowly missed the target. However, the UAE’s failure to capitalize on these moments eventually led to Oman’s equalizer.
In the 79th minute, Yahya Nader failed to clear Al-Mundhir Al-Alawi‘s cross, which fell to Abdulrahman Al-Mushayfari, who made no mistake with a low shot past Khaled Issa.
Missed Penalty and Early Exit
With the score tied at 1-1, the UAE had one final chance to seal their qualification for the semifinals. In the dying seconds of the match, Tahnoun Al-Zaabi was fouled in the box by Omani goalkeeper Fahad Al-Rusheidi, and the referee awarded a penalty to the UAE. However, Fabio Lima—who had been one of the standout players for the UAE—was unable to convert, with Al-Rusheidi diving to his left and saving Lima’s shot. The miss sealed the UAE’s fate, as the match ended in a 1-1 draw, ensuring that the UAE would not advance to the semifinals of the Gulf 26.
A Frustrating Exit for the UAE
The draw meant the UAE finished the group stage with just two points, confirming their elimination from the competition. This result is a blow to the UAE football team, as they had high hopes of advancing further in the tournament, especially after failing to make it past the group stage in the last two editions. With the loss of key opportunities and defensive mistakes, the UAE now faces an early exit from the tournament yet again.
While the team’s attacking play showed promise at times, their inability to close out the match, especially with a missed penalty, left the fans and players frustrated. The UAE team will now have to look ahead to future tournaments, hoping to learn from this painful defeat and come back stronger next time.