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Al Sadd were the dark horses going into their FIFA Club World Cup Qatar quarter-final match against Monterrey, and the Qatar giants put on a valiant fight before going down 2-3 in a pulsating encounter yesterday. The Mexican side were too good for Sadd in the first half, but the hosts never gave up as they twice reduced a two-goal deficit in the second half before running out of time at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Monterrey will now gear up for a marquee semi-final showdown with European champions Liverpool on Wednesday at the Khalifa International stadium, while Sadd will play a fifth place play-off tie against African champions Esperance Sportive de Tunis on Tuesday. Sadd started on a positive note but goals from Leonel Vangioni (23rd minute) and Rogelio Funes Mori (45 +1) gave Monterrey the advantage at half time. While Sadd ignited comeback hopes with a Baghdad Bounedjah header in the 66th minute, Carlos Rodriguez’s strike ten minutes later restored Monterrey’s two-goal advantage. Sadd were back in the contest after a stunner from Abdelkarim Hassan in the 89th minute, but could not force the game into extra time in the six added minutes. “I am very disappointed but proud of the players for what their effort. We made many mistakes that helped the Mexican team. But we deserved more than that and could have taken the game to extra time,” Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez said. “We must learn from our mistakes. But I am happy with most of the players and how they played. But in football the result is most important and we committed too many mistakes to lose today,” he added.  On the match eve, Xavi had urged his players to play without fear and embrace being the dark horse for the clash. While the hosts did put on a much better show in the second half, they weren’t clinical enough in the first even as Monterrey took their chances. Unlike against Hienghene Sport last Wednesday, where they scraped to a 3-1 extra-time win, Sadd were punished by the South American champions for wasting too many chances. Monterrey did go close after just 98 seconds, when Jesus Gallardo hit the bar, but in the next ten minutes Sadd had a chance to take the lead through Akram Afif and Nam Tae-hee. In third minute, Asian best player of the year Afif’s shot was blocked by Marcelo Barovero, and the Monterrey goalkeeper did not do much when South Koream international Nam whipped over the post. On the other hand, Vangioni struck a belter to give the CONCACAF Champions League winners an early lead in the 23rd minute. The defender picked up a ball from 35-yards and unleashed a left-footer, which hit the top of the right-hand post and then slammed into the net. Afif and Hassan did try their luck from outside the box but could not find the target before Sadd captain Gabi’s blunder at the stroke of half time put the hosts two goals behind. The Spanish midfielder played a back pass to Boualem Khoukhi, but could only find a lurking Mori, who squared up Sadd keeper Saad al-Sheeb and calmly put it into the net. Afif had enough time in the remaining seconds of first half to pull a goal back but the forward’s corner from the left was cleared by Barovero. Sadd came in with a lot more intent in the second half but Barovero was again on hand to parry a shot from Hassan al-Haydos. While Xavi’s men did enjoy more of the possession, Monterrey were always a threat. Captain Dorlan Pabon went close a couple of times, but Sadd defenders were able to thwart the danger. Afif did have another big opportunity in the 65th minute, but the 23-year-old once again shot wide. A minute later, however, Bounedjah gave his side a hope when he bundled in a Khoukhi cross. Monterrey were back in control though, when Pedro Miguel lost the ball in the midfield to Jesus Gallardo, who then passed it to Rodriguez to drill into the net. When all the hopes seemed to die down, Hassan’s thunder strike from 25 yards in the 88th minute gave Sadd a slim of a chance. But the Monterrey players were clever in running down the clock as Sadd players ran out of gas.

*FIFA Club World Cup Qatar kicks off A spirited Hienghene Sport gave Al Sadd a scare before the hosts won 3-1 in a play-off match as the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar kicked off Wednesday. At the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Sadd needed extra time to beat Oceania winners Hienghene to seal a place in the quarter-finals against Mexican side Monterrey. Sadd looked for a comfortable win when Baghdad Bounedjah put them in front in the 26th minute, but Hienghene hit back immediately after half time when Amy Roine drew level. Al Sadd's Abdelkarim Hassan celebrates after scoring a goal  Al Sadd's Abdelkarim Hassan (third from left) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal   With Sadd players spurning chance after chance, the game went into 30-minute extra time, where Abdelkarim Hassan scored after a howler from Hienghene goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine, before Pedro Miguel relieved pressure on coach Xavi Hernandez with a strike in the 114th minute. Qatar league champions Sadd have not been at their best form, having lost three of their last four league matches. And they looked lackluster once again against a Hienghene side, who are made up mostly of part-timers. Sadd manager was not too happy with his players for wasting plenty of opportunities to score. "We had many chances to score. We concede just a little bit. They didn't look like scoring in the second half apart from early on. We suffered too much, we did more than them but we missed too many chances. Monterrey will be very difficult side on Saturday," the Spaniard said. Going into Wednesday’s contest, Hienghene were always the underdogs but they battled hard against one of the best teams in Asia. Felix Tagawa’s men were surprise winners of the Oceania Champions League and are the first New Caledonian side to qualify for the Club World Cup. They are based in a remote part of New Caledonia with a population of just 2,500, five hours away from the country’s capital, Noumea. Hienghene does not possess the quality of Sadd, so it was obvious that they would sit deep and look to attack on counter. While the hosts dominated, Hienghene had their fair share of chances in the first half. Sadd did have couple of chances in the opening minutes but it was Hienghene who had first real shot at the goal. In the ninth minute, forward Jefferson Dahite’s right footed shot hit the side net. Four minutes later, Hienghene goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine, was called into action with Gabi and Bounedjah both trying their luck. Nyikeine, however, was equal to the task, blocking both the shots easily.  Roine, meanwhile was a constant threat to the Sadd defence, and the forward tested Saad al-Sheeb from outside the box with Sadd stopper diving to his left to make a save. In the 25th minute, Roine should have put Hienghene into the lead. Captain Bertrand Kai played in a perfect cross into the box, with Roine having beaten defender Pedro Miguel to the ball but the forward could not add power to his header as al-Sheeb made a regulation save. Roine was still lamenting his close miss, when Bounedjah made no mistake at the other end to put Sadd ahead. Hassan delivered a cross from the left-hand flank, which was tapped in by Bounedjah. There was a VAR review for the goal with Bounedjah seemed to be offside but a little nick off the defender on the way through meant the Algerian was played onside. In the 39th minute, Akram Afif thought he had doubled Sadd’s advantage when the Qatari forward had slotted the ball into the net after Boualem Khoukhi’s free kick was palmed away by Nyikeine. But the goal was disallowed after a VAR review by Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal, who deemed Bounedjah had obstructed Nyikeine as he looked to save Afif's follow-up shot. Hienghene got the second half under way and they equalised within a minute after the break, but not before the visitors were made to wait for the goal to be given. Roine had slotted the ball to the bottom right corner after nudging Khoukhi just outside the box but the referee ruled a foul by Hienghene forward. Upon watching a VAR review, Ghorbal reversed his decision as Roine went on a celebratory run with his teammates joining him. There was more VAR drama in the 69th minute and Sadd were at the receiving end again. After Nyikeine had denied Bounedjah with a brilliant save, substitute Hassan al-Haydos fierce shot hit the net. But the referee cut short al-Haydos’ celebration after Bounedjah, who had made the pass to his teammates, was offside. Sadd had numerous chances to finish the game with Afif having couple of golden chances. While the 23-year-old’s header whisked past the post, he was also guilty of shooting wide as the game went to extra time. While Hienghene continued to defend stoically, a mistake from goalkeeper Nyikeine undid all their good work. After confusion with defender, while clearing a Sadd attempt, Nyikeine gave a back pass to his teammates. With referee awarding a free kick to Sadd inside the box, Hassan blasted past a wall of defenders from close range. With Hienghene’s spirits crushed, Pedro added another goal with six minutes remaining to keep Sadd in the tournament.

*FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 Since 2013, three host nation clubs have gone on to reach the final of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019. Al Sadd will be aiming to become the fourth one. The Qatar league champions will kick off their campaign Wednesday against Oceania winners Hienghene Sport in a play-off match Wednesday at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. A victory will give Sadd a place in the quarter-finals, where they will take on Monterrey of Mexico. With a potential semi-final or final encounter against European champions Liverpool – the tournament’s crowd-pullers – looming, the Qatar giants have much to look forward to. Hienghene Sport manager Felix Tagawa (left) and captain Bertrand Kai address a press conference. This will be Sadd’s second participation in the competition having played previously in the 2011 edition, where they finished third. The passionate Sadd fans will hope their team can repeat what Raja Casablanca (2013), Kashima Antlers (2016) and Al Ain (2018) did when the tournament was held in their home country. Sadd’s head coach Xavi Hernandez said it would be a difficult feat to achieve but not impossible. “We are aware that it is difficult, but we are here to perform and play and we have one of the best players of this generation in the club’s history. They were part of the Qatar team which won the Asian Cup this year. We have a very good football philosophy and we are capable of continuing the achievements, but the task will be very difficult,” Xavi said. While Sadd should be able to breeze past New Caledonia’s Hienghene, their recent form does not inspire too much confidence. They have lost three of their last four league games, with Xavi finding it hard to produce consistent results. Sadd’s dip in form coincided with their AFC Champions League semi-final exit, where they lost to eventual champions Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. Against Hienghene – who play in a 1,800-capacity stadium and were only formed in 1997 in the Pacific Island French territory of New Caledonia – Xavi would want his team to strike form. “I am very happy to participate in this big tournament, in which we will play the best clubs in the world. We are very excited, although we know very well the extent of the challenges that we will face throughout the competition, since all the clubs are the champions of their continents,” he said “We will try to display our best level, and we will see what happens later because no one can know what will happen in football. We have to deal with the championship step by step,” Xavi added. After playing four seasons for Sadd, the veteran Spain midfielder hung up his boots in May this year to take up the coaching reins. At 39, he is too early in his coaching career but the former Barcelona great knows how to taste success in big tournaments. As a player, Xavi won two Club World Cup trophies in three attempts with Barcelona. Now the Spaniard will hope to draw his experience as a player to motivate Sadd players. “Now I have no relationship with Barcelona, because I am part of Al Sadd. I am very proud to coach at this club and train its players. It is an honour for me to lead the club in this big tournament. For the players, this tournament means a lot too,” Xavi added. On being the first person to participate in the Club World Cup as a player and as a coach, Xavi said: “This is a great thing for me. I had no idea I will be the first one to do so. It gives me great motivation for tomorrow’s match to win, especially since I played in tournament on three occasions, and won it twice. But it is different this time.” Meanwhile, for Hienghene players, it will be an opportunity of a lifetime. Manager Felix Tagawa’s team are the first New Caledonian side to win the OFC Champions League – having debuted in the competition just two years earlier – and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, and only the second non-New Zealand side to do so. It will be the first time a senior New Caledonian side – club or country – will compete in a global football tournament. The team is based in Hienghene, a remote part of New Caledonia with a population of just 2,500, five hours away from the country’s capital, Noumea. Hienghene arrived in Doha ten days early for the tournament and have put in a week’s preparation. “We have nothing to lose and we are prepared, said coach Felix Tagawa. “They have good defenders and midfielders and a top striker in Baghdad Bounedjah but we have done well to qualify for this tournament and we want to give our all,” he added.

Bahrain sealed an historic Arabian Gulf Cup title – their first in tournament’s 49-year-old history – after a stunning 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the final at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium Sunday. Mohamed al-Rumaihi’s 69th minute goal put an end to Bahrain’s years of pain, in which they had finished runner-up four times in 1970, 1982, 1992 and 2003. As the final whistle was blown, Bahrain players sank to their knees to thank the almighty even as the support staff and substitutes rushed onto the field in celebration. _______________________________________ Tweet by His Highness the Amir We are delighted with the participation of the brothers in the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup, during which we have seen amazing days. Congratulations to Bahrain for winning the title and better luck to the other teams. We are proud of the success of the championship and all thanks and appreciation for all those who have participated in organising it. سعدنا بمشاركة الأشقاء في بطولة #كأس_الخليج_24 التي عشنا معها أياما رائعة. هنيئا للبحرين الفوز باللقب وحظا أوفر للفرق الأخرى. فخورون بنجاح البطولة وكل الشكر والتقدير لكل من شارك في تنظيمها. — تميم بن حمد (@TamimBinHamad) December 8, 2019 _________________________________________ His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani was in attendance for the high-profile match and later crowned the champions. It was a fitting triumph for Bahrain, who came into the tournament as underdogs, and put their heart and soul into every game. They had lost 0-2 to Saudi in the group stages and were in the brink of elimination, but a thrilling 4-2 win over Kuwait put them in semis, where they held their nerve to edge past Iraq on penalties. Portuguese manager Helio Sousa, who had earlier this year led Bahrain to West Asian Football Federation Championship title, attained legendary status as he brought an end to Pearl Divers’ Gulf Cup drought. Sousa chose to go with an entirely different XI to the one that played against Iraq in the semi-finals, and he was proved right. Bahrain despite lacking in quality to Saudi, stayed in the match after early dominance from the Green Falcons, who wasted a penalty in the 10th minute. Saudi – the three time champions and a regional football powerhouse – should have taken a two-goal lead inside the first ten minutes. Salem al-Dawsari, who came into the starting XI after sitting out of the semi-final against Qatar due to injury, was inches away from giving Saudi the lead. The Al Hilal star’s ferocious right-footer in the fourth minute bounced off the top right bar as Saudi started on the front foot. Six minutes later, al-Dawsari was once again in the thick of action after he was brought down by Bahrain’s Jasim al-Shaikh in the box, with Swiss referee Lionel Tschudi pointing to the spot. In what turned out to be a turning point, captain Salman al-Faraj stepped in to take the penalty but put too much power behind his effort as the ball landed in the stands. Bahrain players heaved a sigh of relief, so did their travelling supporters. Bahrain forward Mahdi al-Humaidan, who had an outstanding game, had a chance to put his team ahead in the 14th minute but hit straight to goalkeeper Fawaz al-Qarni. Thereafter, chances were few and far between as both sides struggled in front of the goal. The energetic al-Dawsari did look like breaking the deadlock in the 36th minute. The winger danced around the box as he dodged three Bahraini defenders, but slipped just before aiming his shot. Al-Humaidan also came close to scoring but his header was tipped over by al-Qarni. Al-Humaidan had his heart in his mouth when forward Abdullah al-Hamdan – Saudi’s hero in semis win over Qatar – went down after a slight contact at the end of first half. Tschudi had waved to play on and a VAR review confirmed the referee was right. In the second half too, Saudi controlled the possession with Bahrain waiting to attack on the break. Al-Dawsari continued to threaten but was found wanting in his final third as frustration crept into Saudi’s game. In the 69th minute, Saudi were penalised for early misses. Al-Humaidan ran into a wide position and crossed in a prefect ball to al-Rumaihi, who beat defender Abdulellah al-Malki, to tap into the net with his left foot as Saudi stopper al-Qarni watched in frustration. Armed with a one goal-lead and their supporters rallying behind them, Bahrain had a spring in their step and tightened their defence. Saudi searched for an equaliser but Bahrain closed down the spaces. The Green Falcons had a chance in the 87th minute to take the game into extra time, but Feras al-Bikran's shot was way off the mark. Herve Renard’s men also won a free kick in the stoppage time after Syed Isa Hashim fouled al-Bikran just outside the box but the Bahraini wall was able to avert the danger. That was the last piece of action in the game as Bahrain held on for a significant win in their football history.

Bahrain will be hoping to end 49 years of anguish as they aim for their first Arabian Gulf Cup title Sunday. Standing between them and a historic triumph is Saudi Arabia, the traditional powerhouse, who will be gunning for their fourth title at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium. Undoubtedly Saudi, the three-time Gulf Cup champions, will start as favourites, but Bahrain are more than capable of pulling off an upset. The two teams clashed in the group stage, with Saudi walking away with a 2-0 victory. However, that would matter for little when the two teams kick off the final at 7pm. For, Bahrain have bounced back spectacularly since losing to Saudi – their only loss in the tournament. They defeated Kuwait 4-2 in the final group game to seal their place in the semi-finals, where they knocked out Iraq on penalties. Saudi, on the other hand, knows how to play in big matches. Herve Renard’s side edged past tournament favourites and Asian champions Qatar 1-0 in the semi-finals, despite a sustained pressure from the hosts for long period. In Frenchman Renard they have a serial winner, who in the past has led Zambia and Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations glory. After a 1-3 thrashing by Kuwait in their opening match, Renard has set-up his defence and it will be a tough test for Bahrain’s attack to penetrate into the box. Saudi will once again look for Abdullah al-Hamdan for goals. The 20-year-old striker has put on man of the match performances against Bahrain and Qatar so far, and will be the one to watch out for in the final. Renard said Saudi, who will be looking for their first Gulf Cup title since 2003, will have to stay focused in the final. “We have a strong team. And in the final, we need to play with humility. Since 2003 Saudi hasn’t won this competition, so the players want to make history. We just want to be ourselves. It will be completely different from the game we played against Bahrain in the group stage and we are ready," he said. “We are very pleased to have qualified for the final. I think we deserve it. So we need to concentrate very hard. This is the most important match. The players are very motivated and their level is getting better in each match. We want to be the champions,” he added. Renard indicated his team would not sit back and would play aggressively against Bahrain. “I think against Bahrain and Oman we played good offensive football. The game against Qatar was completely different. When we are in a tournament we need to have a strategy. We love to play offensive football but it’s not possible all the time. Our captain was out. So it was difficult. We played with our heart. We played for the flag of our nation,” he said. Meanwhile, Bahrain coach Helio Sousa has quietly rallied his side into the final, after at one point they looked to be out of contention. The Portuguese manager had earlier this year led them to West Asian Football Federation Championship title, and if he can mastermind Bahrain to their maiden Gulf Cup triumph Sunday, then he would attain legendary status in the country. “We are focusing on ourselves,” said Sousa Saturday. “By entering the final, we have bettered ourselves. But this is not enough. We play every match to win it. We can’t be happier than being in the final of Gulf Cup. It’s our best performance. But we want to win it," he added Sousa admitted his players would be under pressure to create history. “This is the biggest chapter for us. There is pressure, but this is the best pressure that can happen to us. We only have semi-professional championships in Bahrain. But we are winning against the best teams of Asia. The players are doing an amazing job. This is the pressure we want. To be here playing the fifth game. Against a top team,” he said.

It was heartbreak for Qatar as the hosts went down fighting to Saudi Arabia 0-1 in the semi-finals of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup on Thursday. At the Al Janoub Stadium, the Asian champions were unlucky to bow out of the competition despite putting on a brave show in front of a packed crowd. Abdullah al-Hamdan’s 28th minute header turned out to be the winner for Saudis, who will face Bahrain in Sunday’s final at the Khalifa International Stadium. Bahrain had earlier knocked out Iraq in the first semi-final at the Abdullah bin Khalifa stadium after winning via penalty shootout, with both sides locked at 2-2 after extra time. While Saudi will be looking for their fourth Gulf Cup title – their first since 2003 – Bahrain will finally hope to end their drought, after having finished runners-up four times in the competition. On the eve of the tournament, Saudi coach Herve Renard had picked out defence as the backbone of his team. And the Frenchman proved to be right, as his defenders stood like a rock even as Qatar players fired in 21 attempts on the night. Saudi had only four shots but three of them were on target, to hosts just two. Qatar came close to scoring many times with their best chance coming off Abdulaziz Hatem in the 63rd minute. The midfielder’s audacious attempt from the corner slammed into top of the post before it hit Saudi goalkeeper Fawaz al-Qarni’s head. Qatar’s head coach Felix Sanchez followed his blueprint which has given him much success this year, employing a 3-4-2-1 formation. It was an aggressive one, with Abdelkarim Hassan and Pedro Miguel continuing to play as wingers. And it almost gave Qatar success as early as in the seventh minute. Pedro burst into the right side and fired a cross into the box, but Almoez Ali could only get a tiny touch as the ball went out. Captain Nawaf al-Abed had a chance to put Saudi in front in the 16th minute but hit straight to goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb. There were no clear cut chances for both sides until an al-Sheeb mistake provided the breakthrough for the Saudis in the 28th minute. Sultan al-Ghanam played, what looked like an innocuous ball into the Qatar box, but al-Sheeb reacted slowly to clear the aerial ball by which time al-Hamdan got a slight touch on the ball. Salem al-Hajri made a last ditch effort but the ball had already gone in. Two minutes later the hosts could have equalised after al-Qarni fumbled to collect the ball, but Qatar players were nowhere near the ball to take advantage. While their defence looked vulnerable, the hosts’ sheer potency in attack kept them in the game. But the Asian player of the Year Akram Afif had an off day, while Pedro, Almoez Ali and Hatim spurned their chances. It was all Qatar in the second half as the hosts went all out in attack in search for an equaliser. But it took them 60th minute to create a goal-scoring opportunity, with both Hassan and Hatim shooting wide. In the meantime, Saudi players had dropped back to guard their goal but were a threat on the counter. In the 62nd minute, the Green Falcons had a chance to double the lead when al-hamdan was clear on goal, but Boualem Khoukhi’s timely intervention blocked the 20-year-old’s shot. Thereafter, desperate Qatar players continued to pound the Saudi defence. While Almoez was late to latch onto a fine pass from Afif, Hatem’s ferocious corner that bounced off the post indicated it was not meant to be Qatar’s night. Saudi had their own misfortune in the 83rd minute, when Mohamed Kanu’s shot struck the post. The rebound fell into Yasir al-Shahrani, whose shot was tipped off by al-sheeb. With time running out for Qatar, Afif had the best chance in the 85th minute but his header flew well off the target. The Al Annabi had more than 70 percent of the possession in the last 20 minutes, but despite a sustained pressure they could not take the game into extra time.

Qatar will take on Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup on Thursday, in what is a highly-anticipated contest between two of the biggest teams in the region. Before the blockbuster tie at the Al Janoub Stadium, which is slated for 8pm, Iraq will face Bahrain in the first semi-final at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Duhail. Both Qatar and Saudi have had a similar path to the last four. Having lost their opening matches, they bounced back in the next two games to cruise into the knockout stage. After a shock 1-2 defeat to Iraq, hosts Qatar brushed past Yemen 6-0, before beating the UAE 4-2 in an equally dominating fashion to finish second in Group A. Saudi had slumped to a 1-3 loss to Kuwait, but were back to their best as they beat Bahrain 2-0 and defending champions Oman 3-1 to top Group B. Both teams have won the Gulf Cup three times each, with Qatar last winning the title in 2014 in Riyadh, while the Saudis haven’t won the regional competition since 2003 in Kuwait. The last times these two teams faced each other, Qatar beat Saudi 2-0 in the group phase of AFC Asian Cup in January, which the former went to win. Such is the anticipation for the match that, Qatar Football Association (QFA) confirmed tickets were sold out inside 24 hours, with people lining up at various locations in the country and also rushed online to buy tickets. Qatar coach Felix Sanchez, while acknowledging that the support of the home fans will play a big part, said Saudi will be a tough test for the Asian champions. “It’s always nice to play under pressure in front of your fans,” said the Spaniard. “At this point in the competition, you cannot make mistakes, we are playing against a strong team, we will try to play our game, we have our strengths and we will do our best to get a strong result. At this point, every game is a final if you lose you will be out so we have to be at our best,” he added. Qatar will once again rely on newly-crowned Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif, who has been in sublime form and scored a brace against the UAE. Abdelkarim Hassan, Almoez Ali and captain Hassan al-Haydos will also have to play a key part for the hosts. Saudi’s fortunes will depend on eight players from Al Hilal, which won the AFC Champions League last month. Hattan Bahebri and Salem al-Dawsari will pose problems upfront, while winger Salem Mohamed al-Dosari has also been in good form. Green Falcons coach Herve Renard, who has previously led Zambia and Ivory Coast to African Cup of Nations glory, there is nothing much to separate both the teams. “We always have a special conversation with the players before the games, when you are the coach you think about your team and your opponent. We are playing the champions of Asia but they also have to respect Saudi Arabia, it will be difficult for us but we have prepared well,” the Frenchman said. Meanwhile, it will be an intriguing encounter between Iraq and Bahrain in the other semi-final. While Iraq are the only unbeaten team in the competition, Bahrain have not lost the West Asians in their last three meetings. Iraq coach Srecko Katanec said his side’s never-say-die spirit is makes them a stand out team. “All the players are working towards the same objective and hope we make it. The thing with Iraq is the spirit we have. But you never understand what the players do under pressure. If we have experienced players it’s easier,” said the Slovenian. Bahrain, who are yet to win Gulf Cup title, entered the semi-final after a thrilling 4-2 win over ten-time champions Kuwait in their last group match. “We are preparing knowing that we are playing against one great team. We will do well for sure. We are now among the top four teams in the tournament and we are very proud,” said the Bahrain Portuguese coach Helio Sousa.

Felix Sanchez is a calming influence in the Qatar camp. As the Khalifa International stadium, filled with more than 44,000 spectators, went berserk every time a Qatar goal was scored against the UAE on Monday, Sanchez merely did a fist pump on the touchline. Qatar’s head coach is not the one to show too many emotions, be it in a victory or defeat. While the players led by Asian player of the year Akram Afif celebrated on the pitch after a 4-2 win over UAE to confirm Qatar’s place in the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup semi-finals, Sanchez disappeared into the dressing room. The 43-year-old may well have been planning Qatar’s tactics for the last-four fixture against Saudi Arabia, which will be held at the Al Janoub Stadium Thursday. Sanchez has been given much credit for turning a talented bunch of footballers into Asia’s best but the Spaniard chooses to stay away from the limelight, as he praised his players for their worth ethic. “My players deserve all the credit,” said Sanchez on Monday. “They are working hard because they live the game. They are showing their ability to the world and deserve all the success. They are really professionals and they don’t need to be motivated by me. They don’t have to be pushed hard in training. My target for them is to show improvements ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar,” he added. After a shock 1-2 loss against Iraq in the opening game disrupted their Gulf Cup campaign, albeit temporarily, Sanchez has rejuvenated the Qatar side as the shown by their 6-0 thumping of Yemen and then an equally authoritative 4-2 win over UAE. “I think in all the group games were different. We were upset after the first match, but the players showed good level. In the first game against Iraq, we were not lucky but in the second and third games we showed our true potential, especially in attack and scored many goals. We will continue to work hard. My players have shown great character to bounce back. We are growing in the competition and that’s a good sign. We are now going to rest and recover for the semi-finals,” Sanchez said. A draw would have been enough against UAE for Qatar to march into the semis, but Sanchez has drilled in a winning mentality into his players, which was on ample display on Monday. Afif scored twice to put the home side ahead after 28 minutes before Ali Mabkhout pulled one back for the UAE in the 33rd minute. But Qatar captain Hassan al-Haydos made it 3-1 for the Asian champions eight minutes after half time. Mabkhout scored again for the UAE, his fifth goal in three games, after 77 minutes but Boualem Khoukhi put the result beyond doubt when he headed Qatar’s fourth in stoppage time. “It was a good game. The draw was not on our mind. It was our game and the team deserved to win. When you have 40,000 fans supporting the team it gives a good feeling and motivation. It was a nice game for us. We are happy as we could achieve our target to qualify for the semis,” Sanchez said. “In the first half, we did not play for the draw. We started offensively and played with a winning mentality and scored two goals. In the second half, we scored another two goals, while we did concede two goals but we are happy with our performance,” he added. UAE’s Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk praised the Qatar side, who he called a ‘strong team’.  “We conceded goals too easily at crucial moments against Qatar. We lost to a strong team, who are the champions of Asia. They have been playing together for a long time. Unfortunately, a few of our players were injured and couldn’t play, we were also a bit unlucky,” Van Marwijk said. Van Marwijk is now looking forward to the future with utmost optimism. “Our project started months ago with new players, but there is a positive development despite the short preparation period,” said the 67-year-old former Netherlands and Australia manager.  “We have to work hard to achieve further development. Our project started a few months ago with new players, but there have been positive developments and we know what we have to do.” 

Bahrain’s dream of landing their first Arabian Gulf Cup title is alive after their thrilling 4-2 win over Kuwait at the Khalifa International Stadium yesterday. Bahrain had gone into the contest in fourth place in Group B, with just one point from two matches. But they leapfrogged Oman and Kuwait with a stunning display in their final group game. With defending champions Oman losing to Saudi Arabia 1-3 at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium around the same time, Bahrain players erupted in joy at the final whistle. While Saudi qualified as Group B toppers with six pints, Bahrain finished on four points, the same as Oman. But a better goal difference to Oman sealed their place in the semis. On Thursday, Bahrain will take on Group A winners Iraq, while hosts Qatar play Saudi in a mouth-watering second semi-final. In a see-saw contest, Bahrain got on to the scoreboard first when Ali Madan gave them the lead in the stoppage time of the first half. Kuwait levelled after Yousef Nasser converted a penalty in the 59th minute, before Jassim al-Shaikh restored Bahrain’s lead in the 69th minute. Thiago Augusto made it 3-1 for Bahrain in the 83rd minute. Ahmed Zanki, however, kept Kuwait’s chances alive by the reducing the deficit with an 85th minute strike. With Kuwait running out of time for an equaliser, Augusto sealed the deal for Bahrain with a stoppage time goal. Both the teams went all out in attack in search for the opening goal, but lacked the accuracy in the final third. Kuwait were dealt a double blow in the first half after midfielder Talal al-Fadhel had to make way for Fahad al-Ansari in the 34th minute, while captain Bader al-Mutawa too got injured with Zanki replacing the forward in the 43rd minute. Al-Mutawa’s injury seemed to have an effect on his teammates as they conceded two minutes after his substitution. With al-Fadhel bringing down Madan, the referee pointed to the spot which the latter converted duly to give Bahrain the lead. Kuwait started the second half in earnest and equalised after they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Zanki. Nasser stepped in to convert the penalty. In the 65th minute, Kuwait thought they had taken the lead after Nasser slammed it past goalkeeper Sayed Jaffer. But upon a VAR review the goal was overruled as Nasser had committed a foul. Four minutes later, al-Shaikh piled on Kuwait’s misery after he scored from outside the box. With Bahrain needing another goal to get past Oman on goal difference, they continued to attack. And it was Augusto, who came in as substitute in the 77th minute, who found the net after receiving a cross from Sayed Dhiya. Zanki kept Kuwait in the game with a goal in the 89th minute, but Augusto’s goal in the dying seconds ensured Bahrain’s place in the semis. Bahrain’s Portuguese coach Helio Sousa said his side deserved to go through to the semis. “We played a very good game, which showed the hard work we had put in in the last few months. I have 23 players here and they are ready to give it their all. Most of them played a key role in our triumph at the West Asian Championship,” he said. “We have a very impressive team and what they are showing in this tournament is proof that we are one of the best teams in Asia,” Sousa added. Kuwait coach Thamer Enad was disappointed after his side’s defeat and lamented the loss of key players due to injuries. “We were not in a top condition today. Three back-to-back matches in short time had an effect on our players. We had to make changes due to injuries and we suffered on the pitch due to that,” he said.

Fresh from being named as the Asian Player of the Year, Akram Afif inspired Qatar to the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup semi-finals with a 4-2 win over the United Arab Emirates on Monday. Qatar needed just a draw in their last Group A match at the Khalifa International Stadium, but victory was never in doubt after Afif put the hosts 2-0 up inside thirty minutes. Ali Mabkhout converted a penalty to revive UAE’s hopes at half-time, but a 53rd minute strike from captain Hassan al-Haydos restored Qatar’s two-goal advantage. Mabkhout kept UAE in the contest with a goal in the 77th minute, but the visitors could not find an equaliser even as Boualem Khoukhi headed in for Qatar’s fourth goal in injury time. Qatar finished Group A with six points, having lost to Iraq in the opening match. Iraq, meanwhile, emerged as the group toppers with seven points after a goalless draw against Yemen at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Monday. Qatar will play Saudi Arabia, who beat defending champions Oman 3-1 on Monday, in the semi-finals on Thursday. Afif, who had missed his coronation as Asia’s best player at yesterday’s AFC Annual Awards ceremony in Hong Kong, had a spring in his step every time he touched the ball. The Al Sadd forward has been a revelation since he burst onto the scene at the Asian Cup earlier this year, where his 10 assists and one goal helped Qatar win their maiden continental title. Last night, a crowd of more than 40,000 got a closer look at Afif’s talent as the 23-year-old put on a show. Afif was not just a constant threat every time he went forward, but also acted the provider for most of Qatar chances. “It’s a great day for him and Qatar,” head coach Felix Sanchez said after the game. “We are very happy for him. I have known him since 2006, football is his life. He always works hard and is a thorough professional. He deserves every accolade that will come his way. He showed his quality again today,” the Spaniard added. The UAE defence looked shaky from the beginning as Mohamed Barqesh failed to read a long ball from Khoukhi. Abdulkarim Hassan, Qatar’s hat-trick hero against Yemen on Friday, raced into the box only to see his shot hit the side net. Almoez Ali had a chance to put Qatar ahead in the 20th minute but swiped his shot wide. The striker, however, made amends two minutes later. After UAE defender Mohamed Marzooq took forever to clear the ball, Almoez intercepted the ball which landed into Afif’s feet and the midfielder steered the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. UAE were under the pump thereafter as the hosts raided the goal repeatedly and it was another error from Barqesh that saw Qatar double their advantage in the 28th minute. Barqesh had handled the ball in the box, which referee Sato Ryuji had failed to spot. But after a lengthy VAR review, the Japanese referee handed the penalty to Qatar, with Afif sending al-Shamsi the wrong way to put his team in command. UAE were let back into the game after Qatar goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb conceded a penalty as he brought down a charging Bandar Mohamed in the box in the 33rd minute. Mabkhout, the UAE’s all-time top scorer, put the ball in the left-hand-side of the net, to keep his side in the game at half-time. Afif continued to be a threat in the second half but was unlucky not to get his third goal after his shot hit the top bar in the 48th minute. Al-Haydos though got Qatar’s third five minutes later. The Qatari captain started the move from the midfield and passed the ball to Almoez, who lost the ball in a melee with UAE defenders, but al-Haydos was on hand to slam the ball into the net. Mabkhout, however, gave UAE a glimmer of hope when the forward headed the ball in from a corner in 77th minute. It was 29-year-old’s fifth goal of the tournament, making him the top-scorer of the competition. With Qatar coach Sanchez ringing in changes by substituting Afif and al-Haydos, UAE sensed an opportunity. But on the night, Qatar players remained composed and thwarted UAE’s attack. To make the victory much sweeter, Khoukhi scored off a header in the last minute of the contest. As the final whistle was blown by Ryuji, the home crowd erupted in joy even as the Qatar players lined up to show gratitude to the fans for their support. “Congratulations to all of Qatar, the fans and the players,” a delighted Sanchez said. “We played a good match in both the halves and created many chances while converting some of them. We deserved the victory,” he added.

*Exciting day on cards with semi-final spots up for grabs It’s a blockbuster day at the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup, with four matches scheduled on Monday to decide the three semi-finalists. Iraq has already sealed a spot in the semis, with two victories in two matches, but it hasn’t been a smooth sailing for the rest of the seven teams. At the Khalifa International Stadium, Qatar will take on the United Arab Emirates in their last Group A game with the hosts needing just a draw to enter the last four. After their loss to Iraq in the opening game, Qatar bounced back in splendid fashion with a 6-0 rout of Yemen. That huge win on Friday has given the Asian Champions a five-goal advantage, which means Qatar needs just a point against the UAE. However, head coach Felix Sanchez has cautioned his players to approach the game with a positive mindset and not to settle for anything but a victory. “We are going for a win because playing for a draw is dangerous. It is always important to look for three points. It will be a difficult game but we feel very confident,” the Spaniard said on the eve of the game. The Qatar coach has called on the home fans to fill the stadium in large numbers and cheer for their team. “I hope the stadium will be full. We need to have the support of the fans. The fans motivate us and they push us to give our best,” Sanchez said. The last time Qatar faced UAE was in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi in January this year, where they romped to a 4-0 victory en route to winning their maiden continental title. It’s expected to be a close contest this time around. Like Qatar, UAE beat Yemen in their first match at Gulf Cup, but lost to an impressive Iraq side in their next game. UAE coach Bert Van Marwijk conceded Qatar will start as favourites, saying his team lacks experience compared to the hosts. “Qatar has players who have been playing for years with each other, and this has shown in their performance. Our project started months ago with new players, but there is a positive development despite the short period of preparation,” he added. Meanwhile, in Group B all the four teams – Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are in contention for a place in the semi-finals. Saudi, who were shocked by Kuwait in the opening game, threw the group wide open when they beat Bahrain on Saturday. Monday in an 8pm kick-off at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Saudi will lock horns with defending champions Oman, who lead the group with four points. In another match, Kuwait take on Bahrain around the same time at the Khalifa International Stadium. While a draw for Oman would be enough to make it to the last four, Saudi, Kuwait and Bahrain will all need victories to ensure a place in the semis.

Saudi Arabia resurrected their 24th Arabian Gulf Cup campaign with a dominating 2-0 win over Bahrain at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium Saturday. The Saudis were under pressure coming into the match, having been shocked by Kuwait in the opener, but put on an assured display to calm the nerves in the camp. Goals from Abdullah al-Hamdan and Mohamed al-Khabrani in each half gave Herve Renard’s side three points, and now would need a victory against defending champions Oman in the final Group B game tomorrow to book their place in the semi-final. For Bahrain, who are in fourth position in the group with just one point, courtesy their drawn game against Oman, they need to beat Kuwait tomorrow and also hope Saudi will lose to Oman. Defending champions Oman are top of Group B with four points, while Kuwait sit in second place with three points and a +1 goal difference.   Renard had blamed Saudi’s defeat to Kuwait due to lack of preparation, but last night his side looked ready and were in total command against Bahrain. They controlled the possession from the beginning and should have scored more. In total, Saudi had 15 shots to Bahrain’s 10, but the former had six on target while the latter had only three, that too in the final stages of the match. With a 3-1 loss to Bahrain affecting their goal difference, Renard played three strikers upfront in the aim of reducing the deficit. While they enjoyed plenty of spaces in the wide areas, Bahrain with four defenders on the back and a defensive midfielder playing in a central role, were tough to break down. Al-Khabrani thought he had put Saudi ahead in the 10th minute, when he bundled in from close range past Bahrain’s goalkeeper Waleed al-Hayam. But the defender was ruled to be off-side and the goal was disallowed. Saudi continued to create many chances, but lacked the final touch. Bahrain, meanwhile, had an opening in the 25th minute but Thiago Augusto’s attempt was blocked by goalkeeper Fawaz al-Qarni brilliantly. It needed a special strike from al-Hamdan to open Saudi’s account in the 29th minute. After receiving a ball from Salem al-Dawsari in the edge of the box, the 20-year-old Al Shabab striker turned swiftly and fired into the top corner. There were two clear chances for Bahrain around the one-hour mark, which they spurned. Saudi, meanwhile, took their chances as they doubled the lead in 58th minute. Bahrain defenders could only watch as al-Khabrani headed in from a corner. Bahrain upped the ante in search of a goal or two, but there was no serious threat for Saudi’s defence to counter.

Qatar roared back into the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup contention with a thumping 6-0 win over Yemen at the Khalifa International Stadium. The Asian champions bounced back from a shock 1-2 loss to Iraq in their opening match on Tuesday, with a clinical performance Friday. Abdelkarim Hassan started the rout with a brace, before he completed his hat-trick, while Almoez Ali, Abdullah al-Ahrak and Akram Afif found the net once each. Felix Sanchez’s men will now take on the United Arab Emirates in their final Group A match on Monday, in what is now a winner-takes-all showdown. A draw against UAE would ensure a semi-final spot for the hosts as they have a better goal advantage. Qatar's players celebrate their goal  Iraq, who earlier in the day beat UAE 2-0 for their second consecutive victory, became the first team to seal their place in the semi-final. Iraq now can finish as Group A table-toppers with a victory over Yemen on Monday. Before the kick-off, Qatar players stood in unison with a flag in support of their teammate Bassam al-Rawi, who underwent a surgery to his leg, which he injured during Iraq match. Al-Rawi, watching from his hospital bed, would have been proud of his mates. It was a must-win game for Qatar and Yemen, unarguably the weakest side among eight teams in the tournament, bore the brunt of the hosts’ attack. Qatar raided Yemen’s goal from the very first minute, but they were found wanting in the final third. That was until Hassan opened the scoring in the 30th minute after which the goals rained down at the Khalifa Stadium. After a Boudiaf header was not completely cleared by Yemen midfielder Nasser al-Gahwashi, Hassan took full advantage of the blunder to tap in for Qatar’s opener. In the 32nd minute, Boualem Khoukhi spurned an easy chance after he was late to get a touch into Afif’s cross. Hassan, however, got into the scoresheet in the 37th minute with a thunderous left-footed strike from 30 yards, that brushed Yemen goalkeeper Saleem Saeed’s right hand but had enough power to smash into the net. Qatar had couple of chances but went into the break with a two-goal lead. Upon resumption, Yemen threatened a comeback but a dangerous move from Omar al- Dahi was thwarted by Khoukhi inside the box. It was a wake-up call that Qatar needed as they went into overdrive. Almoez, who has struggled in recent matches, got a much-needed boost with a goal in the 57th minute. The Asian Cup MVP exchanged a 1-2 pass from Afif, before unleashing a left-footer past a hapless Saeed. Qatar were awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute, after al-Gahwashi handled a ball from Ismail Mohamed in the box. Afif, Qatar’s designated penalty-taker, generously handed the ball to Hassan, who then completed his hat-trick. Youngster al-Ahrak then made it 5-0 with the substitute scoring from outside the box. Afif, meanwhile, also had enough time for himself to score in the 89th minute and complete a dominating win. Qatar coach Sanchez was a happy man as it was exactly the kind of response he expected after his side’s defeat to Iraq. Against Yemen, Qatar bossed the contest with 20 shots fired, of which 11 was on target. They also enjoyed a whopping 79% possession. Now Sanchez will hope for a similar performance against UAE, as the Qatar eye their fourth Gulf Cup title.

Iraq once again proved they are strong contenders for the title at the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup, with a second straight win Friday. Srecko Katanec’s side showed they are the team to beat after a comprehensive 2-0 win over the United Arab Emirates in the Group A match at the Khalifa International Stadium. Captain Alaa Abdul-Zahara led from the front as he provided an assist for the first goal and scored the second, which was enough for Iraq to seal a straightforward victory. While UAE enjoyed a slightly better percentage of possession, Iraq clearly dominated the contest. They also had five shots on target to UAE’s two. With a game against lowly Yemen to come, Iraq are the favourites to finish as Group A toppers and look a serious threat for their fourth Gulf Cup title. Iraq's forward Alaa Abdul-Zahra celebrates after scoring  Having been forced to field a second string side against Qatar after eight of the Al Shorta club players arrived only on the match eve, Iraq were back to full strength Friday. Katanec even benched Mohamed Qasem, who scored a brace against Qatar, and Al Duhail starlet Mohanad Ali. That only showed how impressive was Iraq’s victory against the Asian champions Qatar and they continued their fine show Friday. It took just six minutes for Iraq to get on the board, as Abdul-Zahara released a perfect ball past two UAE defenders and found Alaa Abbas in the box, with the striker taking one clean swipe to put his team ahead. Iraq were lucky not to concede a penalty in the 18th minute after goalkeeper Mohamed Hameed Farhan brought down a charging Ali Saleh just outside the box. Farhan was only shown a yellow card by Belgian referee Alexandre Boucaut, with UAE players protesting for a penalty in vain. The ensuing free kick, though, almost brought an equaliser for the UAE. Ali Mabkhout, who had scored a hat-trick in UAE’s win over Yemen in the opening match, struck well from the edge of the box from the right side, but Farhan read the ball well, leaping to punch the ball with his right hand. While UAE sensed an opening, Iraq looked more likely to increase their lead. In the 32nd minute, Iraq midfielder Amjad Attwan attempted an ambitious strike from 45 yards but it landed safely into the hands of Mohamed al-Shamsi. Five minutes later, Iraq doubled the lead with UAE defenders once again caught napping. This time it was the turn of captain Abdul-Zahara to get onto the scoresheet. Ali Adnan played a cross into the box with Abdul-Zahara rising between two defenders to head the ball into the net. Iraq started the second half in the same way as they did in the first. Three minutes after the break, Ali Faez Atia’s header missed the target by a whisker. Mohanad Ali, who replaced Abbas in the 62nd minute, had a great chance two minutes after coming in but the Duhail forward, despite having all the time in the world, hit straight to al-Shamsi. While UAE looked for a breakthrough, the only time they troubled Iraq was in the 72nd minute when a Mabkhout shot was parried away by Farhan. Iraq could have sealed the contest with a third goal after being awarded a penalty. Referee Boucaut initially ignored calls for spot kick after Iraq’s Mohamed Reda Jaleel was caught by the high boot of Khalifa Mubarak in the box. But after a VAR consultation and then watching the replay himself, Boucaut awarded a penalty to Iraq. Defender Adnan stepped forward to take the shot but his weak right-footer was easily saved by al-Shamsi, diving to his right.

Kuwait are not the force they once were, but at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium Wednesday, they rolled back their glory years with a stunning 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia in their Gulf Cup opener. The ten-time champions, the most among eight teams, were clinical in front of the goal, with Ahmed al-Dhefiri and Sami al-Sanea giving them a two-goal advantage after the end of first half.  Mubarak al-Faneni then added the third in the 90th minute as Thamer Enad’s men made a sensational start to their campaign. Saudi scored a consolation goal through Feras Tariq in effectively the last kick of the match, but it was a below-par show from Herve Renard’s side, who have their task cut out in the remaining two matches. Three-time champions Saudi, billed as one of the tournament favourites, made a bright start and should have gone a goal up as early as in the 10th minute. Kuwait defender Fahad al-Ansari misplaced his back pass, which was quickly latched onto by Tariq, who then passed the ball to Yahya al-Sheri. But the Saudi captain let go off a golden opportunity by shooting wide of the goal. They had another opening in the 34th minute, but Tariq could only hit the side net. Saudi clearly had the upper hand in the match, but a lapse in concentration put them a goal behind. After a free kick from 45 yards was blocked by the Saudi wall, the ball landed into Kuwait’s Bader al-Mutawa, who played a clever through ball to al-Dhefiri. The midfielder then outsmarted Saudi defence with a quick run into the box and slotted it past goalkeeper Fawaz al-Qarni. Saudi players had barely recovered from the opening setback when Kuwait doubled the lead in the injury time. Al-Mutawa was the provider again as the forward put in a brilliant assist to al-Sanea, who equally timed his run to perfection, ran towards the box and dribbled past al-Sheri and flicked the ball into an empty post. A fight back was expected from Saudi in the second half, but they could not muster any decent chance. In fact, Kuwait had two great opportunities to put the game into bed, which they spurned. But they were not to be denied the third goal. With Renard packing his players in front, substitute al-Faneni took advantage of the empty wide spaces, ran into the box and unleashed a right-footed strike into the net. Saudi pulled a goal back in the dying seconds, but the game was well beyond them at that point. Saudi will next take on Bahrain on Saturday at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, with the Green Falcons needing a victory to stay alive in the tournament. The high-flying Kuwait will face Oman, which is also scheduled for Saturday at the same stadium.

Defending champions Oman played out a goalless draw with Bahrain in a Gulf Cup Group B match, which came to life only in the second half. At the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday, both the sides started on a cautious note and there was little to separate them at the final whistle. Oman had the better of chances in the first half, but Bahrain will feel they should have walked away with three points as they had more than few opportunities in the end to grab a winner. Oman will be indebted to goalkeeper Faiz al-Rusheidi, whose double save in the 74th minute denied Bahrain a winning start.  “If you can’t win, do not lose,” said Oman coach Erwin Koeman, heaving a sigh of relief. While Oman were fancied to win the contest, Bahrain’s recent record suggested they would give a tough fight. Helio Sousa’s side is currently second in the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers in Group C, behind leaders Iraq and ahead of Asian powerhouse Iran. They are also the reigning WAFF Cup champions but are yet to taste the Gulf Cup glory. Oman too are having a great run in the qualifiers, lying second in Group E to Qatar. In fact, Koeman’s charges have only lost once — a 2-1 defeat against Qatar in the qualifiers – since they were knocked out of the Asian Cup in last 16 in January. Koeman since taking over from fellow Dutchman Pim Verbeek has instilled the confidence in his side, which was on display in the early stages of the match yesterday. They were also boosted by sizeable Omani fans in the stands, including 100 students who were specially flown in to Doha to support their side. While Bahrain dominated the possession, only Oman could create any goal-scoring opportunity in the first half, albeit it was far and few though. The first real opening came in the 30th minute, when forward Al Mandhar al-Alawi got past Bahrain defender Sayed Mahdi and was through on goal. But the midfielder’s tame shot was easily saved by Sayed Shubbar. In the beginning of the second half, both sides did not concede much in their half but with 15 minutes the game sprung into life. The vital moment of the game was in the 74th minute when al-Rushaidi made a brilliant double save. The Oman goalkeeper dived to his right to block a fierce shot from Komail Hassan, before on rebound Mohamed Saad pounded the goal post again, only for al-Rushaidi to get up quickly and make another save. On the counterattack, Muhsen could have put Oman ahead but hit straight to Shubbar. Oman had a huge slice of luck in the 76th minute when Saad’s header hit the top bar. There were couple of decent openings for Bahrain the dying minutes but they could not get past al-Rusheidi. Sousa rued Bahrain’s missed opportunities, but was proud of his bunch of players, who he said were still developing. “It was a difficult game as we expected. We created spaces against a good team with good quality. We had our chances in the last 20 minutes. On another we could have scored two goals but I can’t fault in the efforts of my players,” he said. “We are a young team compared to Oman and Qatar. We are still building the side and they can only improve from here. We started with a different line up today and they showed they can compete at the highest level. We won the WAFF title and we will try to win this too,” the Portuguese added. Oman coach Koeman was not too pleased with the results, but conceded his team was lucky to escape with a draw. “We had a decent game. Till the 75th minutes we had our chances but they also had two big chances. The draw is an OK result. Now we will focus on the next two matches,” the Dutchman said. “But I am happy we did not concede any goal. They have some tall players, who troubled us with in the box. We had our chances too and we should have scored. We did not succeed in this,” he added. Oman will next play Kuwait on Saturday, with Bahrain taking on Saudi Arabia on the same day.

The 24th Gulf Cup, which began yesterday in Doha, is touted to be a close contest. While Asian Champions Qatar will be the frontrunners for the title, Saudi Arabia will pose a tough challenge for the hosts. Saudi have won the Gulf Cup three times, but the last of it came in 2003, a drought Herve Renard’s side will be keen to bring an end to. They begin their campaign today against Kuwait at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, with Renard hopeful of a good start despite having limited time to prepare for the big event. Eight of his players were part of the Al Hilal squad which won the AFC Champions League title on Sunday, and reported to national duty only yesterday. They also had to tinker with the squad at the eleventh hour after Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed al-Owais and Al Nasr defender Abdullah Mado were forced out due to injury. Renard said it was important for his side to win against Kuwait today. “We are happy to participate in this tournament, although the Hilal players have joined late, yet we will try to give out best,” the Frenchman said yesterday. “We know we will play against a good team and we have to be ready for tomorrow’s game which is the most important for us in the tournament despite some absences of key players. But we will try to provide a good picture of Saudi football,” he added. Saudi have not had happy memories recently in big tournaments. At the AFC Asian Cup earlier this year, they were knocked out in the last 16 by Japan, and finished bottom of their group in the 2019 WAFF Championship without a win to show, albeit with second string players. But since then their fortunes have improved. They are undefeated in the World Cup and Asian Cup joint qualifiers and come into the Gulf Cup as one of the fancied teams. Renard will be heavily dependent on eight Hilal players, with winger Salem al-Dawsari set to be the key man. “We are a good defensive side but offensively we are not that fantastic. At this time, we trained with 12 players and a goalkeeper but I expect every player to be ready for the competition,” said Renard, who has in the past taken Zambia and Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations glory. “We came to know about the participation in the Gulf Cup after the game against Uzbekistan, where we put in an outstanding performance to win the match. Later we drew against Paraguay without the Hilal players and we provided a good defensive performance,” he added. Kuwait, meanwhile, have won the Gulf Cup ten times, the highest among eight teams. But their glory days are well past them, with their last triumph achieved in 2010. Thamer Enad’s side have three victories in the World and Asian Cup qualifiers and will be aiming to continue their fine form against the Saudis. Kuwait have a formidable squad led by forwards Bader al-Mutawa and Yousef Nasser, who can unlock any defence on their best day. Enad was upbeat about Kuwait’s chances in the tournament and said his side had prepared well. “We started training about two months ago for the World Cup qualifiers and have played three games. So our preparations have been good and we are ready for the Gulf Cup,” he said. “All eight teams have an equal chance of qualifying for the final. This is a great tournament and I’ve also played in this. There is pressure from fans and media but we enjoy it,” Enad added.

Qatar’s Gulf Cup campaign began on a sour note after the hosts went down to Iraq 1-2 in the opening match at the Khalifa International Stadium Tuesday. Mohamed Qasem was the hero for Iraq as he stunned the packed 37,890 crowd with two goals in nine minutes in the first half. Abdelaziz Hatim brought Qatar back into the contest with a strike in the 49th minute, but Felix Sanchez’s men could not find the equaliser. Watched by His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who inaugurated the 24th edition of the tournament, Qatar started on a bright note. Qatar’s Abdelkarim Hassan (centre) vies for the ball during the Gulf Cup match against Iraq Qatar fans wave flags ahead of the match against Iraq Qatar coach Felix Sanchez However, they were guilty of wasting many chances. Iraq, on the other hand, were highly impressive, well organised and grabbed their chances. In fact they had to start the match with a second string XI, with coach Srecko Katanec choosing not to field any of the eight players who played for their club Al Shorta against Mauritanian side Nouadhibou in Arab Club Championship second round match on Monday. While Iraq was second to Asian champions Qatar in quality on the pitch, they made up for it with their huge physical presence and big heart. Qatar coach Sanchez was clearly disappointed with the result, but the Spaniard was optimistic his men would bounce back in the remaining two Group A matches against Yemen and the UAE. “Of course no one wants to lose, especially in such a game like this. You are playing at home in front of your fans. And it’s the first game in the competition and we know that we are the champions of Asia. But it does not give you the three points before the start of the game. You need to play,” he said. “What we can do is work hard in this strong group and ensure that we are stronger in the next game and take the points. I believe we deserved something from this game because of the chances we created. We tried but as I said we need to be better in the next game,” he added. Sanchez had predicted a difficult match due to Iraq’s physically natured game and that’s what he got. “As I had said before, it was a difficult match. We have always found it difficult against Iraq and credit to them for the way they played today,” he said. Things could have been different, though, for Qatar had Almoez Ali and Abdelkarim Hassan converted the chances they got. Almoez, who has failed to reach the heights of his Asian Cup high, had a bad day in the office. On more than one occasion, he fluffed an opportunity to score. The striker’s, and also Qatar’s, biggest chance came in just the fourth minute, with the Duhail forward needing just Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hasan to beat. But Almoez's strike was way off the mark. Hassan, who was a constant threat from the right flank, also had a great chance but could not find the side net. In defence too, Qatar players struggled to find the rhythm, with Bassam al-Rawi’s blunder gifting Iraq the breakthrough in the 18th minute. After an Iraq corner was cleared by goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb, the ball landed into Qasem, who crossed the ball into the box, intending to find his teammates. But in a shocking case of misjudgment, al-Rawi chose not to intercept as the ball evaded two Iraqi players as a helpless al-Sheeb watched the ball slam the net. Iraq doubled the lead in the 27th minute, but this time it was due to Qasem’s brilliance. The 22-year-old midfielder caught onto a loose ball from outside the box and struck a fierce left-footed which beat al-Sheen comfortably. With their backs against the wall, Qatar went into the half-time with plenty to ponder. Sanchez made a change after the break, bringing in Hatim for Yusuf Abdrisag and the move paid dividends quickly. Just three minutes into the second half, Hatim capitalised on a mistake from Iraq defender Mostafa Mohamed to score from close range. Having pulled a goal back and with home crowd behind them, Qatar came close to finding the equaliser many times, but the resilient Iraqi held on for a famous victory. Now Qatar will turn their attention to Yemen on Friday, which is already a must-win affair for them if they are to keep their hope of a fourth title alive. Iraq, meanwhile, will have all their Al Shorta players ready to face the UAE on Friday.