In a thrilling encounter, Saudi Arabia came from behind to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over Yemen in the second round of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium in Kuwait on Wednesday.
Yemen began the match with confidence, scoring in the 8th minute through Haroon Al-Zubaidi’s header from Abdulwasea Al-Matari’s cross. Their dominance continued as Abdulmajid Sabara intercepted Ali Al-Bulaihi’s errant header in the 27th minute. Sabara doubled Yemen’s lead with a composed finish, showcasing the team’s precision and effectiveness in front of the goal.
Saudi Arabia answered swiftly, cutting the deficit in the 30th minute. Mohammed Kanno headed in Musab Al-Juwayr’s precise free-kick, igniting hope. The Saudis built momentum, putting Yemen under pressure as they sought an equalizer.
Second-Half Comeback Secures Victory
In the 57th minute, Saudi Arabia leveled the score. Musab Al-Juwayr confidently converted a penalty after a foul inside the box. The game seemed heading for a draw until stoppage time when Abdullah Al-Hamdan scored a dramatic winner. His 93rd-minute strike secured three vital points for Saudi Arabia, keeping their tournament hopes alive.
نهاية المباراة |
🇸🇦 السعودية 3 – 2 اليمن 🇾🇪
مبروووووووووووك يا أبطال 💚
مبروووووووووووك لجمهورنا العظيم 🫶#السعودية_اليمن pic.twitter.com/dq61mp4NeG— المنتخب السعودي (@SaudiNT) December 25, 2024
Yemen’s woes worsened with Rami Al-Wasmani’s red card in the 95th minute, leaving his team a man down. Despite losing, Yemen celebrated their first-ever Gulf Cup goals against Saudi Arabia, a historic milestone showcasing their improvement.
Saudi Arabia now have three points, bouncing back after their initial loss to Bahrain, while Yemen remain without points following defeats to Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis aim to build on this victory in their next match against Iraq on Saturday to secure a knockout stage spot.
