Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuwait remain top of Group B in the 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations after coming from behind to force a 2-2 draw against the United Arab Emirates in Riyadh on Monday.
It was the UAE who broke the deadlock at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium after 18 minutes when Omar Abdulrahman embarked on a terrific run through the middle before slipping a through-pass to Ali Mabkhout, who skipped inside Khaled Hajiah and sent an audacious chip over a stranded Nawaf Al Khaldi.
They then doubled their lead in the 35th minute and it was Mabkhout who struck again as he clinically curled a 20-yard effort inside the post, after Omar and Amer Abdulrahman had linked up well to create an opening for him.
But just two minutes later, the Kuwaitis pulled one back when Bader Al Mutawa was left in space down the right, and proceeded to send a precise cross for Yousef Nasser to meet with a thumping header past Ali Khasif.
And six minutes before the break, Al Azraq pulled level through a fine individual effort from Al Mutawa, who received possession from the left and charged straight to the edge of the box, before firing a perfectly placed shot into the top corner.
With neither side able to find a winner in the second half, they were both left to settle for a share of the spoils – meaning Kuwait remain in pole position to finish top of Group B with a two-point lead over their closest challengers.
Photo: AFP