SAUDI Arabia and the UAE were both victorious last night as the 23rd edition of the highly acclaimed Gulf Cup kicked off in Kuwait City.
The Saudis broke the hearts of the Kuwaiti hosts in a hard-earned 2-1 win at Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium. The UAE followed suit, defeating a battling Oman 1-0 in the other game of opening night, held at the same venue.
Salman Al Moasher and Mukhtar Fallatah were on target on either side of half-time in Saudi Arabia’s big win over Kuwait.
For the UAE, Ali Mabkhout scored from the penalty spot and it was enough to earn his side the full three points.
Al Moasher opened the scoring for the Saudis in the 13th minute when he struck from close range after some poor defending from the Kuwaitis.
Al Moasher was just barely on side as he received a brilliant pass from Saudi skipper Ahmed Alfraidi. He then needed just one touch to control the ball before slotting it home into the bottom-left corner of goal against the charging Kuwaiti goalkeeper Hameed Al Qallaf.
Al Moasher was then involved in creating the second goal for Saudi in the 52nd minute. He did most of the work as he outsmarted his Kuwait marker and passed to a waiting Fallatah in front of goal, and all he needed to do was tap the ball home.
Kuwait got one back, much to the delight of their home fans, just eight minutes later.
Abdulla Al Buraiki fired in a brilliant volley from the right of the box despite the best efforts of the Saudi back line and goalkeeper Assaf Al Qami. Al Buraiki shot across the face of goal and into the far corner of the net.
Al Buraiki received a great pass from teammate Redha Abujabarah after the Saudis gave up possession.
Kuwait had arguably its best chance to equalise with five minutes remaining in regular time but a header from Fahad Alenezi was just inches off the target. Then, in the 90th minute, a well-hit header from Faisal Al Harbi was brilliantly stopped by a diving Al Qami, preserving the Saudis their single-goal victory.
In yesterday’s other contest, the UAE were awarded a penalty in the 28th minute when Al Mabkhout appeared to be taken down as he entered the area by Oman’s Khalid Al Hajri.
Mabkhout calmly stepped forward to take the shot, and he slot the ball into the bottom-right corner, with Oman goalkeeper Faiz Al Rushaidi guessing the wrong way.
Both teams had several other chances to score throughout the match, but they could not find the finishing touches.
Prior to last night’s games, a glittering opening ceremony was held, featuring musical and artistic shows expressing the spirit of ‘One Gulf’.
The main show was themed ‘Our eternal Gulf,’ with nine songs that welcomed the Gulf countries, each conveying a gesture of a competing team.
A number of Kuwaiti singers took part in the show, which was followed by fireworks.
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