ABU DHABI - Bahrain lined up a Gulf Cup of Nations semi-final against Oman after posting a 2-1 win over defending champions Qatar in an all-or-nothing Group A game here Wednesday.
Three-time Gulf champions Saudi Arabia, coached by Brazilian Marcos Paqueta, qualified as the group winner with 1-0 win over Iraq, and will play hosts the United Arab Emirates in Saturday's other semi-final.
Bahrain had an Alaa Hubail double to thank for victory over Qatar, which had taken a 19th-minute lead through current Asian Player of the Year Khalfan Ibrahim.
Hubail struck on the stroke of half-time and at full-time to break the hearts of the recently-crowned Asian Games champions, who head home from this eight-team tournament without a win.
Saudi Arabia also broke Iraqi hearts with their 1-0 win thanks to a 12th-minute penalty by veteran Yasser El Qahtani.
No love was lost in a game which, if drawn, would have seen both sides progress from the group stages.
But the inability of Iraq, silver medallists at the Asian Games, to score any goals saw them slip behind Bahrain on goal difference and out of the competition.
In Tuesday's Group B games, the United Arab Emirates kept their home fans happy with a last-gasp 3-2 win over Kuwait to book a place in the semi-finals.
The UAE, seeking an elusive first Gulf crown, finished second in the group behind Oman, who also had a late goal to thank for a 2-1 win over Yemen, a result that left them with an impressive 100 percent record in pool games.
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