Agony for UAE and Abdulrahman as Oman capture the Gulf Cup of Nations title

Omar Abdulrahman missed from the spot in the final minute of normal time, then again in the shootout.

One kick from a third Gulf Cup of Nations crown, and later granted a reprieve, in the end his double dismay denied the UAE the trophy. Oman were the victors, standing firm in the lottery that concluded the final in Kuwait City on Friday, that concluded the tournament. All that effort and it came down to 12 yards.

It came down to mettle, too, gold-plated. Oman displayed it and more, converting every one of their five. Abdulrahman was the only anomaly in UAE white, but it was enough. The poster boy of Emirati football had come unstuck once more.

Abdulrahman departed the pitch at the teeming Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium immediately after the penalties, consoled by teammates and opponents as he trudged off. There were no words to soothe, no comeback he could muster.

Oman had a second regional crown and first since 2009, avenging their 2007 final defeat to the UAE in the cruelest way possible. To their credit, they had been dogged and disciplined throughout the match, dangerous as well.

However, the final would ultimately hinge on Abdulrahman. In the last minute, with the showpiece goalless and headed for extra time, his tame penalty was saved by Oman’s Faiz Al Rushaidi, low to his right. In the shootout, Abdulrahman went last for the UAE and elected to go the other way, but so too did Al Rushaidi.

And that was it: the UAE lost out on the title; Alberto Zaccheroni, less than three months into his tenure, could not seal his perfect start.