Qatar commenced their campaign in the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup with a 2-0 victory over defending champions Bahrain at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah on Thursday. The win places Qatar second in Group B, trailing the United Arab Emirates, who secured a 4-0 win against Yemen earlier in the day.
In a match that saw a significant shift in momentum, Qatar took the lead in the 61st minute when Boualem Khoukhi scored with a header from an Akram Afif free-kick. However, Qatar’s advantage was challenged when Ahmed Fathi was sent off in the 70th minute after receiving his second yellow card, reducing the team to 10 players on the field.
Bahrain capitalized on the numerical advantage and increased their offensive efforts to find an equalizer. Despite their push forward, they were unable to break through Qatar’s defense. The match’s final moments saw Qatar solidify their victory. In the ninth minute of stoppage time, Hassan Al Haydos converted a penalty, awarded after he was fouled inside the box, sealing the 2-0 scoreline.
Following this result, Qatar prepares to face Yemen in their next group match, while Bahrain will go up against the United Arab Emirates. The upcoming matches will determine the standings and progression of the teams within the group.