MANAMA, Bahrain (AP)

The United Arab Emirates opened its Gulf Cup campaign with a 3-1
win over neighboring Qatar while Bahrain played to a scoreless draw
against Oman on Saturday.

Qatar scored in the 11th minute when Khalfan Ibrahim slotted
home a penalty. But the UAE answered two minutes later, when Omar
Abdulrahman drew his side level. The UAE took the lead in the 28th
through Ali Mabkhout, and Mohamed Ahmad Gharib put the result
beyond doubt with a goal in the 66th for the 2007 champion.

The eight-team tournament, hosted by Bahrain due to fears of
violence in Iraq, is being played over two weeks amid tight
security due to a political crisis in the Gulf nation. Violent
clashes between riot police and anti-government protesters are
routine but didn’t disrupt either match.