United Arab Emirates vs Oman — Tips & Analysis

Under 2.5: Goals have been hard to come by whenever these two meet. Their last five meetings produced just over a goal a game between them, and only one of those five games reached 3 goals. Both teams are built that way. The UAE have tied 7 of their last 16 games and let in just over a goal a game, so tight nights are normal for them. They still topped Group B with 7 points and were the best team in it. Oman are more careful again. They score 1 goal a game across their last 15 and have tied 7 of them. They sit deep, crowd the middle and ask the other team to find a way through. Their back four has let in only three goals in this tournament outside one heavy defeat. A semi-final pulls both sides further back. Neither wants to make the mistake that ends their tournament. A 1-0 for the UAE looks the likeliest finish, and one goal is well clear of what we need. The honest worry is that the UAE did win 4-0 and 3-0 in the group, and 9 of their last 16 games have had 3 or more goals. Oman also come in with an extra day of rest, 4 days to the UAE's 3, after beating Kuwait 3-1. We still expect a quiet, low-scoring game.