BAHRAIN: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - United Arab Emirates fans celebrate outside the stadium as their team beat Iraq 2-1 after extra time to win the Gulf Cup

Record ID: 184434

  • Title: BAHRAIN: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - United Arab Emirates fans celebrate outside the stadium as their team beat Iraq 2-1 after extra time to win the Gulf Cup
  • Date: 19th January 2013
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) UAE FAN, ABDULLA SHAER, SAYING: "I cannot express my happiness and thank God we won, the match was very beautiful and thank God for everything." VARIOUS OF FIREWORKS
  • Embargoed: 3rd February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bahrain
  • Country: Bahrain
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAF3XYG9IS454F30FG9P8R69SH4
  • Story Text: United Arab Emirates fans celebrated outside the Bahrain National Stadium on Friday (January 18) as their team beat Iraq 2-1 after extra time to win the Gulf Cup.
    The stadium, in Bahrain's capital Manama, was completely full with thousands of fans refused entry and riot police were put on standby as a precaution.

    "We have come here to enjoy the soccer match but unfortunately with apologies the soccer stadium is full and there is no space at all," said UAE fan Mahmood Rashid.
    Rashid along with many other fans watched the game on a large screen outside the stadium and they went crazy as Ismail Al Hammadi struck the extra-time winner.
    Substitute Al Hammadi latched on to a through pass before slotting it home after regulation time had ended 1-1.
    UAE drew first blood just before the half-hour mark when Umar Abdul Rahman rounded four Iraqi defenders before unleashing a left-footer to put his team ahead.
    Iraq equalised through striker Younis Mahmoud with less than 10 minutes to go to force extra time but could not deny UAE their second Gulf Cup title.

    "I cannot express my happiness and thank God we won, the match was very beautiful and thank God for everything," said UAE fan Abdullah Shaer.
    Another fan, Mohammed, said: "I hope that the brothers of Iraq improve and we can meet again and again. And we have got used to Bahrain and everyone was very polite and welcomed us nicely."
    Earlier on Friday, Kuwait thrashed 10-man Bahrain 6-1 to finish third.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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