Qatar kicked off their 27th Arabian Gulf Cup campaign with a 2-0 win against defending champions Bahrain at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah. The victory placed Qatar second in Group B, trailing the United Arab Emirates, who secured a 4-0 win over Yemen earlier in the day.
Boualem Khoukhi gave Qatar the lead in the 61st minute, heading in a goal from an Akram Afif free-kick. However, the team’s momentum faced a setback when Ahmed Fathi received his second yellow card in the 70th minute, reducing Qatar to 10 men.
Despite the numerical advantage, Bahrain struggled to capitalize and find an equalizer. Qatar solidified their win in the ninth minute of stoppage time, with Hassan Al Haydos scoring a penalty after being fouled in the box.
Qatar’s next challenge in the tournament will be against Yemen, while Bahrain is set to face the UAE. The group stage dynamics have started to unfold, with Qatar seeking to advance further and maintain their strong start.