Gulf Cup: Bahrain Reaches Final after Entertaining Match with Iraq

Doha, December 05 (QNA) - The Bahraini football team reached the final of the Arabian Gulf Cup after winning on penalties against Iraq 5-3 in an entertaining encounter. The 90 minutes ended 2-2, in the match that took place in Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Al Duhail. Mohanad Ali Kazem took the lead for Iraq in the sixth minute, and was pegged back eight minutes later by Abdullah Al Hazaa. Iraq then took the lead four minutes later through Ibrahim Bayesh, before Mohammed Jassim Marhoun equalized again at the end of the first half. The penalty kicks were all well-played. It was only Mohammed Kassem who put the goal keeper the wrong way only to place the ball wide of the mark. Bahrain capitalized on the error and converted the last penalty to reach the final. They will face the winner from Saudi Arabia and Qatar at Khalifa International Stadium next Sunday. Today's confrontation between the Bahraini and Iraqi teams in the semi-finals is the fourth between the two teams in four months. The first confrontations between the two teams during that period were in the WAFF Championship final, which ended with the victory of Bahrain with one goal scored by Isah Musa, and the Bahraini team was crowned as champion for the first time in its history. The two teams played two matches in the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup and the Asian Cup, where the match that was played in Bahrain ended with a draw for the two teams 1-1, and the second leg in Jordan between the two teams finished 0-0. As for the result of today's match, the Bahraini team is prevailing in the previous four confrontations, with two wins and two draws. The match witnessed strong performance and great techniques throughout the game from both teams, where the Iraqi team succeeded in scoring in the 6th minute by player Mohanad Ali Kadhim. Attempts from both teams continued and soon came the response from the Bahraini team, who succeeded in scoring in the 14th minute by Abdulla Al Haza'a. Ibrahim Baish scored in the 18th minute for Iraq. The Bahraini team managed in the 45th minute to achieve its goal, by Mohamed Marhoon. The game ended with a draw (2-2) and the two teams went penalties, and Bahrain succeeded to qualify for the final match. (QNA)