KUWAIT CITY: Iraq stunned defending champions Qatar 2-1 in the biggest upset of the 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup late on Tuesday.
In the early match of Group B, Bahrain edged Yemen 1-0.
At Al Kuwait Sports Club, the defending champions started off on a bright note as Almoez Ali put them on lead in the 17th minute despite the impressive Iraqi play.
Qatar broke on the counter as Hassan Khalid teed up Almoez Ali and he drove a rasping shot beyond Jalala Hassan Hachim.
As the first half grew older, it looked like Iraq were running out of options. Aymen was proving a handful up front but too often, their creativity mustered up half-chances for their attackers.
Just before the end of the first 45, Iraq were awarded a free from downtown and Ali Faez Atiyah, the centre-half, stepped up and sent it screaming past Saad Al Sheeb. It was what Iraq deserved and they could finally start thinking about the victory in the second half with the equaliser on the board.
An inspired substitution saw Ali Husni come on after 65 minutes. He slotted home the winner just second later and Iraq had completed the comeback. Qatar pushed on for the equaliser but impotence in front of goal continued and they were left wanting as the ref blew the whistle and Iraq grabbed all three points in the Group B encounter, AS TV English reported.
Qatar coach Felix Sanchez was confident his team will secure their place in the semis with win over Bahrain on Friday. “We still have a game in hand. It was a good fight by my players. We will now turn our attention to the game against Bahrain. This is football. You get such results. I am sure the players will fight again in the last game of this stage. We are still in the competition,” coach Sanchez told Gulf Times after the match.
In the earlier match at Al Kuwait Sports Club, Bahrain earned the vital three points after Jamal Rashid’s penalty goal in the 39th minute was enough to see them through.
With the win, Bahrain now have 4 points after two matches and are behind Iraq on goal difference in Group B.
Bahraini players dominated the proceedings but missed chances to score until minute 37th, when they earned a penalty, with Jamal Rashed scoring the single and winning goal.
In the second half, the Yemenis broke the Bahraini defence several times but of no avail.
The Yemenis’ qualifying hopes have almost vanished after the defeat.
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