Iraq don edge Kuwait 3-2 for one breathless top-of-the-table clash for Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium on Saturday. The result for second round of Arabian Gulf Cup Gulf 27 officially knock Kuwait out for first-round stage.
First half end goalless. Second half na pure footballing madness. Zidane Iqbal open scoring in 52nd minute, latch onto Ali Jasim pass inside box and hammer powerful shot into net.
Kuwait hit back through Yousef Nasser, who slot 74th-minute penalty straight down middle. For another account, the penalty come in 75th minute after Mohammed Daham pick up rebound and play in Yousef Majed, who Al-Nassr midfielder Hayder Abdulkareem brought down inside box. Nasser step up and convert from spot to level.
Iraq then swing it their way again when Saif Rashid conjure superb backheel in 83rd minute. Eight minutes after Nasser equalizer, Saif Rashid restore Iraq lead with stunning backheel volley after Ahmed Yahya deliver cross from left flank.
Nasser think he don rescue Kuwait once more in 90th minute, following dangerous cross to level tie. After quick VAR review, Nasser deemed onside and Kuwait hope to stay in competition kept alive. A fingertip save from Ahmed Basil deny Nasser hat-trick and red card for Kuwaiti right-back Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi follow.
Then sucker punch land. Karrar Nabeel unleash unstoppable rocket from edge of box in ninth minute of stoppage time to win it for Iraq. The substitute had other ideas. Last-gasp long ball launched toward box was headed by Aymen Hussein to Ahmed Yahya, who laid ball off to Nabeel outside box for thunderous finish into far corner. Referee sound whistle shortly after.
Kuwait had opened tournament with one-goal defeat to Saudi Arabia, while Iraq draw with Oman in first round. Three days after taking early lead before dem hold to 1-1 draw, e seem like history go repeat itself on Saturday night. But Nabeel no gree.
Group stage conclude on 29 September, when Iraq face hosts Saudi Arabia in mouthwatering encounter and Kuwait take on Oman. Kuwait remain tournament most successful nation with 10 Arabian Gulf Cup titles, last one in 2010. Iraq sit second on four, most recent coming in previous edition in 2023.
For Iraq, anything but defeat against host nation Saudi Arabia go see dem through to semifinals. Kuwait now go into fixture against Oman on Tuesday pointless and with little hope of qualifying. Iraq temporarily move top Group A with 4 points, while Kuwait remain bottom with no points, awaiting match between Saudi Arabia and Oman to determine qualification race.
