KUWAIT CITY — The Khaleeji Zain 26 tournament in Kuwait delivered another day of dramatic action on Wednesday, with Bahrain securing a semi-final spot with a 2-0 victory over Iraq and Saudi Arabia staging a stunning comeback to defeat Yemen 3-2 in a pulsating encounter.
At Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Bahrain dominated Iraq to earn their second win of the tournament. Ali Madan opened the scoring in the first half, exploiting a defensive lapse to convert a precise cross from close range.
Just a minute into the second half, Madan doubled Bahrain’s lead, pouncing on a defensive error to finish at the second attempt. The victory propels Bahrain to six points, guaranteeing their place in the semi-finals with a game to spare. They will face Yemen in their final group match on Saturday.
The evening’s opening match at Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium saw Yemen stun Saudi Arabia early, taking the lead in the 8th minute.
A clever short corner allowed captain Abdulwasea Al Matari to deliver a pinpoint cross that Harwan Al Zubaidi headed into the net.
Yemen doubled their advantage in the 27th minute when Abdulmajeed Sabarah intercepted a short back pass and slotted past the Saudi goalkeeper, sparking jubilant celebrations among Yemeni fans.
Saudi Arabia, however, quickly responded. Just two minutes later, a well-executed free kick found Mohammed Kanno, who headed home to reduce the deficit to 2-1 by halftime.
The turning point came early in the second half when VAR awarded Saudi Arabia a controversial penalty for handball. Musab Al-Juwayr stepped up and converted from the spot, leveling the match at 2-2.
Despite relentless Saudi pressure, the game appeared destined for a draw until Abdullah Alhamddan struck in the fourth minute of added time to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory.
The win sets up a high-stakes clash on Saturday night between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with the winner joining Bahrain in the semi-finals. — SG