The FIFA Arab Cup group stage concluded in dramatic fashion in Doha as United Arab Emirates defeated Kuwait 3-1 to qualify for the knockout stages. Egypt were, in turn, eliminated after they lost 3-0 to Group C table-toppers Jordan.
Later in the evening, Algeria ensured they progressed to the quarter-finals – and topped Group D in the process – with a 2-0 victory over Iraq. Meanwhile, Bahrain defeated Sudan in a 3-1 thriller, but both teams were eliminated.
Egypt 0-3 Jordan
Egypt’s FIFA Arab Cup campaign was brought to a disappointing and premature conclusion as they suffered defeat at the hands of Group C winners Jordan at Al Bayt Stadium to exit the tournament without a win from their three matches.
After a break-neck opening spell with both goalkeepers forced into smart saves, Jordan grabbed the lead as a slick move down the right flank ended with the ball breaking somewhat fortuitously to the onrushing Mohammad Abuhasheesh in the box and he calmly slotted beyond Mohamed Bassam.
Jamal Sellami’s World Cup-bound side doubled their lead before the interval in superb style as Mohammad Abu Zraiq cut inside a defender on the right of the box before curling a sublime effort beyond the diving Bassam, with the ball kissing the inside of the post en route to the net.
Jordan looked to have added a game-sealing third early in the second period, but Odeh Fakhoury’s cheeky dink over Bassam was ruled out for handball as he challenged Yassin Marei in the build-up after Nour Baniateyah’s booming clearance. Egypt were then inches away from reducing the deficit as Marwan Hamdy struck the base of the post from range.
Al Nashama set the seal on their victory in added time, when Marei’s desperate last-ditch sliding tackle only succeeded in felling substitute Ali Olwan, who stepped up to score from the spot.
United Arab Emirates 3-1 Kuwait
Yahya al-Ghassani scored two goals in as many minutes to help seal United Arab Emirates' passage into the quarter-finals as ten-man Kuwait bowed out in spirited fashion.
UAE's fate was not in their hands but they knew they needed at least a victory to reach the knockout stages. They got off to the brightest of starts when they were awarded a penalty in the 16th minute after Ahmad Aldhefeery brought down al-Ghassani, who calmly converted his spot kick.
Just two minutes later, al-Ghassani found the net again after Kuwait lost possession near their goal and, after some neat passing play, the 27-year-old winger slotted home in style.
Kuwait's hopes of a comeback suffered a serious setback early in the second half when Sultan al-Enezi was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with al-Ghassani. Despite being a man down, they gave themselves hope when Fahed al-Hajri headed in a deep inswinging free-kick from Mohammad Daham.
UAE, however, quickly capitalised on their numerical advantage to retake the lead in style in the 66th minute when Nicolas Gimenez struck an emphatic effort from the edge of the area in one of the goals of the tournament so far.
Algeria 2-0 Iraq
Algeria headed into this section settler knowing that they needed just a point to secure passage to the knockouts but they ended up with all three after a tetchy, stop-start affair at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Their cause was greatly aided after Iraq’s Hussein Ali saw red in just the fifth minute and they took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Redouane Berkane nodded a free-kick back across the face of goal where it was headed home by Mohamed Amine Tougai.
Before the goal, Iraq had lost influential forward Mohanad Ali to injury and they struggled to cause any real threat to a Fennecs side that doubled the advantage shortly after the restart.
A teasing cross from the impressive Yacine Brahimi led to confusion between Iraq goalkeeper Fahad Talib and defender Saad Natiq with the former clattering the ball into the latter before it ricocheted into goal.
Despite several missed chances from Algeria, that was the way that things finished, with the 2-0 win sending the Fennecs top of the section and booking a last eight date with United Arab Emirates, while Iraq will face Jordan.
Bahrain 3-1 Sudan
Bahrain ended their campaign on a positive note after defeating ten-man Sudan in a thrilling contest as both teams were eliminated following Algeria's victory.
In a balanced opening half, Bahrain got the breakthrough when Abdulla Al Khalasi broke down the right flank and crossed the ball to Mahdi Abdouljabbar who finished with style.
Sudan's comeback hopes then took a dent early in the second half when defender Mohamed Ahmed was given his marching orders after lashing out at Abdouljabbar off the ball.
The Africans kept on pushing and levelled the scores courtesy of an own goal by Vincent Emmanuel as he tried to clear the ball under pressure from Yasir Mozamil.
Bahrain retook the lead with a penalty after Mustafa Mohammed brought down Ali Madan in the area and substitute Mohamed al-Romaihi dispatched the spot kick. Mahdi Al Humaidan put the icing on the cake with a clinical strike just before the final whistle.
