Doha: Kuwait's national team defeated Bahrain 2-1 on Thursday in the third round of the Gulf U-23 Football Cup held in Doha, Qatar. The match saw Kuwait taking a decisive lead in the first half with goals from Ahmad Boudai and Montasir Suleiman.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Ahmad Boudai opened the scoring for Kuwait in the 15th minute, swiftly followed by Montasir Suleiman's goal in the 31st minute, giving Kuwait a solid lead. Bahrain managed to pull one back in the second half with a 67th-minute goal by Ali Al-Dosari, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome.
In a concurrent match within the same group, Qatar drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia, resulting in both teams accumulating seven points each and advancing to the semifinals. Kuwait, despite their victory, placed third in the group with three points, while Bahrain finished without any points.
The tournament's format dictates that the top two teams from each group move on to the semifinals. The semifinals will see the winner of Group A facing the runner-up of Group B, and vice versa, with the winners progressing to the final.
This edition of the Gulf U-23 Football Cup, featuring eight teams divided into two groups, marks the first time the tournament is organized under the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation. The competition began on December 4 and will conclude on December 16 at Stadium 974 in Doha. Group A consists of Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, while Group B includes Iraq, the UAE, Oman, and Yemen.