Riyadh: Beating hosts Saudi Arabia to win the Gulf Cup in Riyadh has completed a childhood dream for Qatar defender Abdul Kareem Hassan.

Hassan, now 21 years old, was just nine when Saudi Arabia beat Qatar 3-1 to win the Gulf Cup in Riyadh in 2002 — the last time the tournament was played in the kingdom.

He watched the match on television as a child and vowed to avenge the defeat if ever he became a player.

Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over the Green Falcons at the King Fahd International Stadium in the Saudi capital, finally saw his dream come true.

“I remembered watching the 2002 final on TV when I was a small child and seeing Saudi beat Qatar,” said Hassan, who has four goals in 31 senior appearances for his country since debuting in 2010. “From that moment I wished I could play in a final.

“Thanks god I went to Yemen in 2010 and Bahrain in 2013 but we didn’t win. Now we have come to Saudi and we have taken the cup between their fans and on their field, so thanks god.

“Sure, it’s a dream to have finally beaten them and taken the cup back from Saudi,” added the 2013 Qatar Stars League Young Player of the Year, who also won the Asian Champions League with club side Al Sadd in 2011.