Group B, Match 1, Dec 22, 2024: Bahrain 3-2 Saudi Arabia
Bahrain made a winning start to their title bid with a hard-earned 3-2 victory over continental giants Saudi Arabia.
Mahdi Abduljabbar and Mahdi Humaidan were both on target in the first half and then Mohammed Jassim Marhoon helped seal the three points with a goal in the final quarter-hour.
The Bahrainis were made to sweat in the game’s closing stages, however, as they needed to stave off a late Saudi charge that saw their opponents twice cut the deficit to a single goal. Bahrain’s Ebrahim Lutfhallah was instrumental in helping preserve that slim advantage, making a number of crucial stops through to the final whistle.
Group B, Match 2, Dec 25, 2024: Bahrain 2-0 Iraq
Bahrain emphatically punched their tickets to the tournament’s semi-finals after outclassing 2023 Gulf Cup champions Iraq 2-0.
Ali Madan had a brace to help lift the Bahrainis to their second win in as many games as they rose to solo first place on the Group B table with six points.
Madan fired home on either side of half-time, sending Bahrain through to the competition’s knockout stage with one match still to play in the preliminary round.
Group B, Match 3, Dec 28, 2024: Bahrain 1-2 Yemen
Ten-man Bahrain suffered a late 1-2 defeat to Yemen in their concluding Group B game.
Harwan Al Zubaidi scored the match winner from close range for the Yemenis with only two minutes remaining in regular time.
Earlier in the contest, Bahrain’s Ebrahim Al Khattal had an own goal in the first half but substitute Mohammed Al Rumaihi levelled for the nationals as the match entered its final half-hour.
The nationals were then forced to finish the contest a man down after veteran defender Sayed Mahdi Baqer was sent off in the 73rd minute.
The result had no bearing for the Bahrainis as they had already secured their place in the last four from their earlier two victories. They finished first place in Group B and were joined in the semi-finals by runners-up Saudi Arabia.
Semi-finals, Dec 31, 2024: Bahrain 1-0 Kuwait
Bahrain enjoyed double celebrations on New Year’s Eve with a 1-0 victory over hosts Kuwait to send them through to the championship game.
Mohammed Jassim Marhoon fired in a 75th-minute winner to help lift the Bahrainis to their stunning win, ringing in 2025 in style.
The nationals had to play close to 40 minutes of regular time – and over 10 minutes of second-half injury time – a man down after forward Mahdi Abduljabbar was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
But Bahrain showed their resilience and fighting spirit leading up to Marhoon’s sensational heroics.
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