Qatar Football AssociationNational Teams | First Team
30.12.2017 4:00 in : &
KUWAIT CITY: Bahrain on Friday reached the semi-finals of the Gulf Cup

following a thrilling 1-1 draw with defending champions Qatar.

A second-half strike by Ali Jafaar Madan helped Bahrain get the

much-needed one point to finish above Qatar in the first phase of the

Gulf Cup.

For Qatar,  their goal was scored off a penalty kick by striker and

captain Hassan Al Haydos in injury time of the first half at Jaber Al

Ahmed Stadium.

Bahrain finished the Group B standings with five points while Iraq (7

points) sealed the top position with a 3-0 win over Iraq on Friday.

Qatar, winners in 2014, finished in third place with 4 points from

three matches. Yemen ended the tournament without a win in three

matches.

Qatar opened the tournament with a 4-0 win over Yemen but lost to Iraq

2-1 last Tuesday.

Qatar’s brave show in the first half bore fruit when Bahrain

goalkeeper brought down Akram Afif inside the box with the wiry Al

Anabi striker ready to shoot. Uzbek referee pointed to the spot before

showing a yellow to keeper Sayed Ebrahim.

Al Haydos stepped up and went for the top of the net for Qatar’s goal

that silenced a big Bahrain crowd. It was Al Haydos’ second goal of

the tournament.

In the 58th minute, Bahrain found the equaliser when Jaafar converted

from close range after a cross from the flank.

In the semifinals, Bahrain will play Oman on Jan 2. In the other

semifinal, Iraq will battle UAE.