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The Saudi Arabian national football team has advanced to the final of the Arabian Gulf Cup’s 27th edition after a penalty shootout victory over Qatar, according to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. The semi-final encounter, which took place on October 3 in Jeddah, remained goalless through both regular and extra time. Saudi Arabia converted three penalties to Qatar’s two to secure the win in front of more than 51,000 fans. The result sets up a final against the United Arab Emirates on October 6.
Saudi Arabia had topped its group with a maximum nine points from three matches without conceding a goal, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The team beat Kuwait, Oman and Iraq in the group stage that wrapped up earlier in the week. This unbeaten run extended into the knockout phase despite failing to score in the semi-final. The hosts controlled the match for long periods.
Match statistics showed Saudi Arabia enjoying 62 percent of possession and registering 20 shots compared to Qatar’s two, an Oman Observer assessment found. Despite the dominance, neither side could break the deadlock even in extra time. The referee from Portugal, João Pinheiro, oversaw the contest that went the distance. Penalty kicks ultimately decided the outcome.
In the shootout, Saudi Arabia’s successful takers included Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Mohammed Kanno and Mukhtar Ali, Africa Soccer reported. Qatar managed to score twice but fell short as the home goalkeeper made key interventions. This victory marks another step for the Saudi team in a tournament it is hosting for the first time in Jeddah.
The Arabian Gulf Cup 27 features teams from across the Gulf region and runs until October 6, according to the organizing body. Saudi Arabia has won the competition three times previously, with the most recent title coming in the early 2000s. The final will see the hosts take on the United Arab Emirates, who advanced with a 1-0 win over Oman in the other semi-final.
A total of 39 goals have been scored across the tournament’s 14 matches to date, producing an average of nearly three goals per game, tournament data indicates. The event has drawn significant attention with large crowds attending matches in Jeddah. Organizers had launched the official identity of the tournament earlier in the year, highlighting its cultural ties to the host city.
