The Kuwaiti national team secured a thrilling 2-1 victory against the UAE at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium during the second round of Group One matches in the 26th Gulf Cup Championship, “Gulf Zain 26.” The event, hosted by Kuwait, will run until January 3.
Overcoming an early deficit caused by Caio Canedo’s goal in the 5th minute, Kuwait turned the tide with goals from Mohammed Daham in the 17th minute and Moaz Al-Enezi in the 90th. This victory places Kuwait alongside Oman at the top of Group One with four points each. Meanwhile, the UAE and Qatar remain at one point each, following Qatar’s 2-1 loss to Oman.
Kuwait will face Qatar, and the UAE will take on Oman in the final round on Friday.
Match Highlights
- Early Pressure from the UAE: The Emirati side opened the scoring when Harb Abdullah set up Caio Canedo for a skillful header in the 5th minute. The UAE continued to dominate, with Fabio Lima and Yahya Al-Ghassani creating additional chances.
- Kuwait’s Equalizer: Against the run of play, Mohammed Daham capitalized on a defensive error to slot the ball past the UAE goalkeeper in the 17th minute.
- Missed Opportunities: Both teams created chances, with Kuwait’s midfield struggling to match UAE’s ball possession. Al-Rashidi, Kuwait’s goalkeeper, made several critical saves, including a shot from Lima in the 44th minute.
- Dramatic Decider: In the 90th minute, Moaz Al-Enezi intercepted a misjudged pass by UAE defender Khalifa Al Hammadi, dribbled past the goalkeeper, and scored the winning goal.
Tactical Changes and Player Performances
Kuwait’s coach Juan Pizzi and UAE’s Paulo Bento made several adjustments to their lineups. Despite injuries, Kuwait’s young talents like Youssef Majed stepped up, while the UAE’s tactical switches, including the introduction of Bruno Oliveira, failed to break Kuwait’s defense.
Oman’s Victory Over Qatar
In the other Group One match, Oman defeated Qatar 2-1, with striker Issam Al-Subhi scoring twice after Almoez Ali’s early goal for Qatar. Oman now has a strong chance of advancing to the semifinals.
With the group stage nearing its conclusion, the competition intensifies as teams vie for semifinal spots. Kuwait’s thrilling victory over the UAE will undoubtedly boost their confidence in the upcoming matches.
