Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Manama: Saudi Arabia missed out on a third GCC U-23 Championship title in five tournaments as the defending champions were edged 1-0 by 2013 hosts Bahrain on Monday.
A 32nd minute penalty from Hassan Jameel was enough for Bahrain to take the trophy for the first time and gain revenge over the neighbours after losing 2-0 in last year’s final and finishing second behind the Saudis in the inaugural five-team, round robin tournament.
A number of the Saudi Arabia squad will feature for the Kingdom in the inaugural AFC U-22 Championship which will take place in Oman in January next year.
The Saudis have been drawn against Iraq, Uzbekistan and China in Group D of the newest competition in the AFC’s calendar, while Bahrain narrowly missed out on qualification to the AFC U-22 Championship.
Kuwait finished third following a 4-3 penalty shootout triumph over AFC U-22 Championship hosts Oman after the two sides were locked at 0-0 at the end of regulation time and will take on Japan, Australia and Iran in Group C while the Omanis are up against Jordan, Korea Republic and Myanmar in Group A.