FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN wrapped up their campaign in the AGCFF U17 Gulf Cup 2025 last night with a narrow 2-3 loss against Kuwait.
The kingdom’s youth football national team fell behind twice in the Group B contest but equalised both times, only to concede a decisive third midway through the second half.
The result was the Bahrainis’ third loss in as many outings in the eight-team competition. The Kuwaitis claimed their first victory to finish ahead of Bahrain on the table.
Kuwait had a dream start when they went ahead after only two minutes through an own goal by Bahrain’s Hussain Zuhair. The kingdom’s star striker inadvertently sent the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear a cross delivered into the box by Kuwait’s Shafi Alqahtani on a free-kick.
The nationals then equalised in the 16th minute with a fine left-footed effort from outside the box by Abdulrahman Ahmed. But Mohammad Malmutairi put Kuwait back in front in the 40th minute following a gaffe by Bahrain goalkeeper Abdulla Abbas as he left his line in an effort to make a clearance. That was enough to give his team the 2-1 edge at the break.
After the re-start, Zuhair made up for his early mistake as he brought the game level once more in the 58th minute. He scored with an impressive bicycle kick after an Ahmed shot rebounded off the crossbar.
But Kuwait had the final say and Malmutairi supplied their winner in the 69th minute, slotting home between the legs of Abbas.
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