Abderaouf Cheniouni
Morocco 3-0 United Arab Emirates
Morocco goals: Karim El Berkaoui (28), Achraf El Mahdioui (83), Abderrazzaq Hamdallah (90+2)
Player of the Match: Hamza El Moussaoui (Morocco)
Morocco entered this clash off the back of two dominant wins against Syria and Saudi Arabia and continued their impressive run of form to book their place in the final with a discipline and ultimately emphatic win over the United Arab Emirates. The Atlas Lions had only conceded once before this match and would once again rely on their defensive solidity to control the match before applying a clinical edge in the final third to finish off their opponent.
The opening exchanges were balanced with Morocco threatening through early efforts testing Emirati goalkeeper Al Meqbaali, including a long range effort from El Berkaoui. The UAE made their presence felt and responded with a couple of efforts of their own without threatening El Mehdi Benabid’s goal.
With both sides sizing each other up, the breakthrough eventually came in the 28th minute when Hamza El Moussaoui delivered a perfectly weighted, curling cross from the left, met by Karim El Barkaoui who headed across goal and in. It was another testament to Morocco’s efficiency, and one that swung the balance of the first period in their favour.
As they had done in their quarter-final clash against Algeria, the UAE emerged for the second period with greater intent and pressed higher up the pitch as they searched for an equaliser. Their best chances would come from cross and set-pieces as they struggled to break the Moroccan block. It was from a set piece that came their best sight at goal; Bruno’s header from a corner clipping the crossbar. Imperious central defenders Soufiane Bouftini and Marwane Saadane were otherwise dominant, cutting out balls into the area and sweeping up any danger with authority.
Morocco were content to soak up the pressure, as Emirati momentum grew. The Asian side committed numbers forward as the game wore on, and the Atlas Lions pounced on the opportunity to counter. They struck decisively in the 83rd minute when substitutes Abderrazzaq Hamdallah and Achraf El Madioui combined, for the latter to finish with a low drive pas Al Meqbaali.
The Dagger can deep into stoppage time as Hamdallah turned scorer, finishing a Mohamed Boulacsout cut-back to cap off a dominant performance and a display of tournament experience to advance to the Final where they will face surprise package Jordan. The UAE, meanwhile, have a shot at a podium finish when they face Saudi Arabia in the third place match on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia 0-1 Jordan
Jordan goal: Nizar Al Rashdan (66)
Player of the Match: Yazid Abu Leila (Jordan)
Jordan were the only perfect side in the Arab Cup ahead of this match and continued their flawless run in the competition, edging Saudi Arabia to set up what will be their biggest test of the tournament in a clash against Morocco. Al Nashama made it five wins out of five without star man Yazan Al Naimat, who suffered a ruptured ACL in their quarter-final against Iraq, making their win all the more impressive. Saudi Arabia, for their part, came in off the back of an extra-time win over Palestine with heavy mileage. In their legs and yet stared the brighter of the two sides, in a half where they controlled two thirds of possession and had the better sights at goal, despite the lack of clear openings.
Jordan remained cautious throughout the contest, relying on their usual organizational discipline, but showed moments of intent in the second half, starting with a probing shot from distance only seconds in. The decisive moment arrived in the 66th minute when Mahmoud Al Mardi delivered an inviting cross from the left, met by Nizar Al Rashdan, who drifted in unmarked behind the defence and left high to power a header past Sadui Arabia’s Nawaf Al Aqidi.
The Green Falcons would not go quietly and maintained their approach; Feras A Brikan’s sharp turn-and-shot forcing an excellent low reflex save from Jordan’s Yazeed Abulaila before star man Salem Al Dawsari hit a speculative volley from range.
Jordan, however, would remind their opponents of the danger they posed on the counter attack when Abu Zraiq’s mazy run off the right culminated in a shot at the Saudi goal.
Late drama followed as Saudi Arabia squandered two significant opportunities. The first saw Saleh Al Shehri missing the target from six yards out when a delicious Musab Al Juwayr delivery dropped to him with only the keeper in his way. Al Dawsari then fired high and wide from inside the area, with a handball appeal in the buildup waved away. Saudi Arabia would suffer one final blow when Waleed Al Ahmad was shown a straight red for a last-ditch tackle denying a goalscoring opportunity. Jordan closed out the victory with Yazan Al Naimat watching from the stands, as they look forward to a major final to close out their historic year, following qualification to their first World Cup Finals last summer.