Yemen and Saudi Arabia face off in the second round of Group B of the Gulf Cup. Both teams suffered defeats in the first round and are expected to adopt more prudent tactics if the match tends to be a stalemate. Yemen's offense is weak, so defense is a must. In their last five matches, they have scored two goals or less in four of them. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, have been attacking less frequently, and the odds for an away win look a bit low, as they seem to be struggling 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, the region's top tier, vies for a place in the weekly finals of the World Cup qualifiers. The Gulf team has won three titles, been runner-up seven times and advanced to the semifinals eight times. Advancing was just the basic goal. However, Saudi Arabia are currently third in the group after an unexpected 2-3 defeat against Bahrain in the first round. This match is crucial for Yemen to take at least a point, so there is no room for error.
Yemen, on the other hand, a dark horse in the Gulf, managed to qualify for the second round of the Asian tournament this year. However, it failed to get out of the group in the last nine Gulf tournaments. Due to the lack of offense, the team has a clear positioning and focuses on defensive counterattack. In the first round against Iraq, the team only lost 0-1. Facing the stronger Saudi Arabia, Yemen may accept a loss of 1 to 2 goals, and it would be a surprise if they could score by chance. However, Yemen's chances of winning are relatively high against either the visiting Saudi Arabia or the handicapped home team.
