Saudi Arabia beat hosts Kuwait 2-1 in Gulf Cup opener

Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia started their campaign in the Group A fixture of the Gulf Cup with a 2-1 win over hosts Kuwait at the Jaber International Stadium on Friday.

For Saudi outfits, Salman Al Moasher and substitute Mukhtar Fallatah scored in each halves while the lone goal for Kuwait came in the second half through substitute Abdullah Al Buraiki.

Saudi outfits, playing in white and green, took the lead as early as in the 13th minute. A fine through by mid-fielder Ahmed Al Fraidi and Al Moasher did well to control the ball with his left foot before slotting home with a right-footed effort.

Trailing by a goal, the Kuwaitis brought some urgency in their play but were well kept in check by the resilient Saudi defence. With the hosts pressing there were plenty of openings especially on the counters.

In the 28th minute, Saudis came close to widening the lead. Nouh Al Mousa’s 20 yard left-footed attempt rattled the bottom of the right vertical before the rebound landed right at the foot off an overlapping substitute Fallatah, who came in early in place of injured striker Hazzaa Al Hazzaa, shot over.

Kuwait also had their share of chances to draw level.  But Faisal Al Harbi hit the side post in the 36th minute off a pin point lofted cross from mid-fielder Fahad Al Enezi.

Then later on, a Fahad Al Ansari cross from the right and Bader Al Mutwa in the centre had an open goal in front but the latter ended up hammering it over.

After the change of ends, Saudi doubled their lead through their substitute Fallatah, who thus compensated for the earlier miss. He poked it home after being set by Al Moasher on a move initiated by Ahmed Al Fraidi.

The hosts, despite the double blow, remained undeterred and egged on by their fans, reduced the margin in the 60th minute. Substitute Al-Buraiki, coming off the bench for Mohamed Al Ajmi, made an instant impact from his first touch. He timed his run to perfection to reach to a long ball from Al Mutwa before slotting it home with a brilliant side volley.

With that goal, the Kuwaiti outfits had a spring in their legs and they were all over the Saudi territory looking for the equaliser. In the 68th minute, a header from Fahad Al Hajeri flew over the crossbar off a corner from Faisal Zayed. The hosts kept the pressure on till the end and it was Saudi goalkeeper Assaf Al Qarni ‘s brilliant save off a power-packed header from Zayed  in the 90th minute that ensured the slender one goal win for the visitors.