The UAE national football team staged a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat Oman 2-1 in a hard-fought Gulf derby on Saturday. The match, held at Doha’s Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, was part of the second-round fixtures in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The victory gives the UAE a vital opening win in their group campaign. Oman remains on a single point, having previously secured a goalless draw with Qatar in the first round of matches.
Oman Takes Early Lead
Oman started the match with high intensity, putting the Emirati defence under immediate pressure. Their aggressive approach paid off in the 12th minute when a defensive mix-up led to an own goal from UAE defender Kwame Kweido, who deflected the ball into his own net.
The UAE’s efforts to find an equaliser were complicated in the 32nd minute when winger Yahya Al Ghassani was forced off with an injury after a promising run. Coach Cosmin Olăroiu brought on Ali Saleh as his replacement. Despite some creative moments from Nicolas Giménez and Fabio Lima, the UAE went into the halftime break trailing 1-0 after a half defined by missed chances and defensive errors.
Second-Half Turnaround
Olăroiu made a decisive tactical shift at the start of the second half, introducing substitutes Harib Abdalla, Caio Canedo, and Yahya Nader. The changes immediately altered the game’s momentum, with the UAE launching a series of attacks. However, Omani goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Khamini made several key saves to protect his team’s narrow lead.
The breakthrough for the UAE finally came in the 76th minute, as sustained pressure resulted in an equaliser from Milos Miloni. Just seven minutes later, Caio Lucas completed the comeback with a spectacular long-range strike from outside the penalty area, securing the lead in the 83rd minute.
Oman pushed for a late goal to salvage a point, but UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa made two crucial saves in the final minutes to preserve the win. The result ensures the UAE begins this crucial stage of the World Cup qualification process with a perfect record.
