Kuwait vs Iraq: Iraq take the lead in Gulf Cup clash but Kuwait fight back to level
Iraq and Kuwait met in the second round of Gulf Cup Group A; according to the latest available updates the match stood level in the 88th minute after Iraq had scored but Kuwait equalized.
Background
Iraq and Kuwait faced off on Saturday in the second round of Group A at the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup. According to IraqiNews, the match kicked off at 6:55 p.m. local time at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium. Sources disagree on the venue's location — VAVEL places it in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while IraqiNews states the match was held in Baghdad.
The two sides arrived with contrasting opening results. Iraq had drawn 1-1 with Oman, with Mohammed Qasim scoring in the sixth minute before Oman's Nasser Al-Rawahi equalized in the 67th. Kuwait had lost 1-0 to Saudi Arabia in the first round. Ahead of matchday two, Saudi Arabia led Group A with three points, Iraq and Oman had one point each, and Kuwait had none. The top two teams in the group advance to the semifinals, and Iraq's next group match, on September 29, is against group leaders Saudi Arabia.
Criticism of Iraq's play
Ahead of the Kuwait match, Iraq coach Graham Arnold faced criticism over the team's performance against Oman. Iraqi coach Nebras Salman pointed to three mistakes: an incorrect lineup and formation, abandoning the short-passing style Iraq used against France, Norway and Senegal at the World Cup in favor of ineffective long balls, and overall tactical disorganization on the pitch. Arnold explained that his squad had little time to prepare, as Oman's team had been in camp several days longer. He confirmed that Mustafa Saadoun and Mohammed Qasim were available, while defender Akam Hashim's fitness was still being assessed. As reported by YSscores, Iraq and Kuwait had drawn both of their previous meetings in Asian World Cup qualifying.
Match progress
The first half finished scoreless, though Iraq looked the more threatening side — per VAVEL, they had two shots on target compared to Kuwait's one. Iraq's Mohammed Majid was booked in the 18th minute. In the second half, Iraq took the lead in the 56th minute through Zidane Iqbal, who tapped in after sustained pressure. Kuwait did not give up, however, and according to VAVEL's live updates had equalized by the 84th minute. In the last available update, at the 88th minute, both sides were still fighting for a winner as the match headed toward its conclusion.
