Oman today_ The United Arab Emirates national team had a challenging start in the Arab Cup, suffering a 2–1 defeat against Jordan in their opening match. The game, held at Al Bayt Stadium, saw Jordan take the lead with goals from Ali Alawwan on a penalty in the 20th minute and Yazan Al Naimat in the 63rd minute, while the UAE tried to fight back with a goal from Bruno Oliveira in the 47th minute.
The match began with strong attacking pressure from the UAE, but Jordan gradually turned the game in their favor through organized defense and counter-attacks. A key moment came in the 18th minute when Khaled Al-Zanahni of the UAE was sent off for pulling back a Jordanian attacker, and two minutes later, Alawwan converted the resulting penalty to put Jordan ahead.
The second half saw the UAE immediately respond, with Oliveira scoring just two minutes after the restart to level the match. However, Jordan regained the lead in the 63rd minute when Al Naimat’s goal, initially ruled offside, was confirmed after a VAR review. Despite multiple attacking attempts, the UAE were unable to break through Jordan’s solid defense and the goalkeeper’s precise saves.
In the end, Jordan secured all three points to top Group C, while the UAE remained at the bottom without any points. Egypt and Kuwait, each with one point, follow closely behind. In the next round of matches on Saturday, the UAE will face Egypt at Lusail Stadium, while Jordan will play against Kuwait at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.