Qatar crash out of Gulf Cup

Doha: Holders Qatar crashed out of the Arabian Gulf Cup after being held to a 1-1 draw by Bahrain in an exciting Group B clash at Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City on Friday.

Captain Hassan Al Haidous converted from the spot to put Qatar ahead in the first-half added time but Bahrain equalised through Ali Madan before the hour mark.

Bahrain booked their berth in the last four as runners up, behind Iraq who blanked Yemen 3-0 to progress as group leaders.

Qatar played an attacking game throughout and cannot be blamed for not trying, but poor finishing cost them dearly.

It was Bahrain who had the first crack at goal after Ali Madan made a surging run through the left but the shot was not powerful enough to really test Saad Al Sheeb in Qatar goal.

However, with Qatar needing a victory and their opponents only a draw to progress, the pattern of the game soon became clear and Hassan Al Haidous drew a smart save from Bahrain goalkeeper Sayed Mujtaba Alawi.

Qatar had another look at Bahrain goal when Pedro Miguel rose high unchallenged to meet an Al Haidous corner, but his powerful header was hopelessly aimless.

Felix Sanchez’s men had to wait for a while to create another clear chance and in the 41st minute Al Haidous again brought a smart save from Alawi after linking beautifully with his attacking partners Almoez Ali and Akram Afif.

Almoez then menacingly cut in through the left byline, but his cutback sailed harmlessly across Bahrain goal. A minute later, Pedro toyed with Ali Madan and surged through the right before Bahrain defence somehow managed to avert the danger.

Qatar were enjoying a period of clear supremacy and they scored in the third minute of the first-half additional time.

Though Afif’s initial goal-bound shot took a deflection off Sayed Baquer’s boot, the KAS Eupen forward was the first to the loose ball and Bahrain keeper Alawi was too late with his flying challenge.

Referee Aziz Asimov pointed to spot and Al Haidous fired it right through the middle, as the keeper dived to his right, to make it 1-0.

Bahrain came out with a more attacking frame of mind after the second half and they eventually got the reward for that.

Ahmed Yasser managed to get his boot to a dangerous cross from the left, but his attempted clearance was straight at Ali Madan, who made no mistake with his left footed shot from inside the box in the 57th minute.

Desperately looking for a winner, Qatar brought in Ali Farydon and Mohammed Muntari in the attack.

Farydon almost enjoyed a dream start as his first touch, a powerful header to meet an Al Haidous free kick, crashed onto the crossbar.

Bahrain then had a chance to bury the game in the 88th when substitute Abdulla Yusuf Halal broke clear through the middle, however, he lacked poise and sent his shot wide of the target.

Qatar then suffered a big blow as Ahmed Fathy got was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Ali Madan.

Though Karim Boudiaf and Muntari still had chances to win it for Qatar it proved to be Bahrain’s night.

In the semifinals, Iraq will play UAE while Bahrain take on Oman.