UAE beat former Asian champions Iraq 2-1 in extra-time to emerge champions at the 21st Gulf Cup in a thrilling final in Bahrain on Friday.

Substitute Ismail Al Hammadi buried the ball with a rasping shot in the left corner of the net in the 107th minute of extra time for the match winning goal.

Omar Abdulrahman put the 2007 Gulf Cup winners UAE ahead in the 28th minute while Iraq equalised through captain Younis Mahmoud Khalaf in the 81st minute.

Thousands of UAE fans flown in by chartered flights specially for the final roared in celebration as UAE won the Gulf Cup for only the second time in history.

Earlier, Kuwait thrashed 10-man Bahrain 6-1 to finish third.