Jeddah:Qatar drew 1-1 with the United Arab Emirates at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in the final round of Group B matches at the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup.
According to Qatar News Agency, this match was decisive for determining the group winner since both teams had already secured their spots in the semifinals. Both teams ended the group stage with seven points, but the UAE finished top on goal difference.
The UAE will face Group A runner-up Oman in the first semifinal on Saturday at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium. Meanwhile, Group B runner-up Qatar will compete against Group A winner Saudi Arabia in the second semifinal on the same day at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
The match saw a strong start, with Qatar capitalizing on quick transitions, leading to an opening goal by Almoez Ali in the 33rd minute following a cross from Jassem Gaber. However, the UAE increased its offensive play and equalized when Khaled Al Tanhani set up Ali Saleh, who scored in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Throughout the second half, the UAE continued to press for a lead, while Qatar adopted a defensive stance, focusing on counterattacks. Despite the efforts from both sides, the match concluded in a 1-1 draw.