MANAMA — The United Arab Emirates beat Oman 2-0 and Bahrain defeated Qatar 1-0 in their final Group A matches here Friday. The victory sent Bahrain to the semifinals. The UAE had already qualified for the last four after beating Bahrain and Qatar. The UAE sits atop the group with nine points. The only goal of the Bahrain-Qatar match came in the 25th minute from a penalty kick taken by Fawzi Mubarak. The UAE will face the second-placed team in Group B, which will either be Kuwait or Saudi, while Iraq is certain to face Bahrain in the semis. Saudi Arabia will play a crucial Group B match against Kuwait Saturday. Saudi Arabia needs a win to qualify for the semifinals. Kuwait, on the other hand, can advance with either a win or a draw. Iraq has already qualified from the group after beating Saudi Arabia 2-0 and Kuwait 1-0. Yemen was the first to exit the competition. Critics see the Saudi Arabia-Kuwait tie as a revenge match since Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia to win the title last time around. Al-Hilal signs Bolivar Colombia international Gustavo Bolivar has joined Al-Hilal on a three-year contract to strengthen the team's midfield, the Riyadh-based club said on its website. The 27-year-old left Deportes Tolima to join the Saudi club for an undisclosed fee, the 13-time Saudi Pro League champion said. Bolivar has made five appearances for his country and is known for his free kicks and long-range shooting. Coached by former Paris Saint-Germain boss Antoine Kombouare, Hilal begins its AFC Champions League quest in the UAE next month when it faces former champion Al-Ain. — Agencies
