Qatar launched their 27th Arabian Gulf Cup journey with a significant 2-0 win over defending champions Bahrain on Thursday at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah. The victory places Qatar in a favorable position in Group B, just behind the United Arab Emirates.
The match saw Boualem Khoukhi breaking the deadlock in the 61st minute with a precise header from an Akram Afif free-kick. Despite being reduced to 10 players following Ahmed Fathi’s second yellow card in the 70th minute, Qatar managed to maintain their lead against an aggressive Bahraini attack.
Bahrain intensified their efforts after the sending-off, seeking an equalizer, but their attempts were thwarted by a resilient Qatari defense. The match was sealed in Qatar’s favor during the ninth minute of stoppage time when Hassan Al Haydos successfully converted a penalty after being fouled inside the box.
This outcome places Qatar second in Group B, trailing only the United Arab Emirates, who secured a 4-0 victory over Yemen earlier in the day. Qatar’s next challenge will be against Yemen, while Bahrain is set to face the UAE in their upcoming fixture.
