Qatar marked a strong start to their 27th Arabian Gulf Cup journey with a decisive 2-0 win against the defending champions, Bahrain, at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah on Thursday. The match saw Qatar taking the lead in the 61st minute when Boualem Khoukhi headed in a goal from an Akram Afif free-kick.
The game took a tense turn for Qatar in the 70th minute as they were reduced to 10 men following Ahmed Fathi’s second yellow card. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Qatar held their ground as Bahrain intensified their efforts to equalize.
In the ninth minute of stoppage time, Qatar solidified their victory when Hassan Al Haydos successfully converted a penalty, awarded after he was fouled inside the box. This win positions Qatar second in Group B, trailing the United Arab Emirates, who secured a 4-0 win over Yemen earlier the same day.
Looking ahead, Qatar is set to face Yemen in their next group match. Meanwhile, Bahrain will aim to rebound as they prepare to take on the UAE. The outcome of these matches will be crucial in determining the teams’ standings in the group stage of the competition.