UAE’s Ali Mabkhout scored the first hat-trick of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup as his side defeated Yemen 3-0 in their first Group A match at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday.
UAE’s all-time leading goal-scorer, Mabkhout, who plays for Pro-League club Al-Jazira, led the charge as he scored in each half of the game to give his youthful side three easy points to start with.
The Whites are at par with Iraq on points, but lead Group A on superior goal difference after the latter beat Qatar 2-1.
The 29-year-old forward scored in the 21st, the 38th and the 55th minute of the game for the three-time champions.
Mabkhout was the hero of UAE’s come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Malaysia in their 2022 World Cup qualification campaign opener, which was also coach Bert van Marwijk’s first match in charge, in September. Mabkhout had netted both the goals for his side.
Yemen’s Ahmed al-Hifi, who plays in QNB Stars League for Al Kharaitiyat, received a yellow card in the 67th minute.
UAE dominated their rivals in all departments of the game as Yemen had nothing much to show for.
Yemen had a chance in the 59th minute when Abdulwasea al-Matari found some space along the right side in the UAE box and drove hard at the goalmouth only for defender Khalifa al-Hammadi to thwart with a sliding effort.
Yemen has never won a game in seven previous appearances in the tournament and last beat the UAE in a 2006 World Cup qualification game in September 2004.
Van Marwijk side will face Iraq in their second game on November 29 and lock horns with hosts Qatar in their final game on December 2.