In the second round of Group B of the Gulf Cup, Yemen and Saudi Arabia are in the thick of the action. Having lost their first-round meetings, Yemen will be unable to mount an attack if the game takes a conservative direction, having scored no more than two goals in four of their last five matches. Saudi Arabia, by contrast, have a slower attacking tempo and are a tame away W-underdog, but are still on course to score 2.5 goals.
The teams in the Gulf region are familiar with each other and know each other's strengths and playing styles. Saudi Arabia, a top tier team in the region, had been in contention to qualify for the World Final Week finals. With three titles and seven second place finishes in their history, and eight other semi-final appearances, the Gulf state's appearance was just a basic goal. However, having lost 2-3 to Bahrain in the first round and currently sitting in third place in the group, this match is crucial for Yemen to get at least one point and therefore should not be underestimated.
Yemen, the "runner" of the Gulf, managed to qualify for the second round of the Asian zone this year, but has failed to make it out of the group in the last nine Gulf tournaments. Due to the lack of offense, their tactical positioning for the defensive counterattack. The first round against Iraq only lost 0-1. In this match, Yemen is expected to lose by a difference of 1 to 2 goals, despite the fact that Saudi Arabia is stronger. An unexpected goal would be a pleasant surprise for Yemen, whether they are playing away from home or handicap hosts, Yemen is likely to get a good result.
