Bahrain Stuns Iraq to Secure Spot in Semi-Finals
Bahrain's emphatic win over Iraq showcases their football prowess as they head to the Gulf Cup knockout stage.
Bahrain made a significant stride toward the semi-finals of the 26th Gulf Cup, emphatically defeating defending champions Iraq with a 2-0 victory at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City on December 25, 2024. The senior men’s national team showcased their prowess with two stunning goals from Ali Madan, marking their second consecutive win in the tournament.
This victory propelled Bahrain to the top of Group B with six points, securing their passage to the knockout stage with one preliminary round match still to be played. Bahrain's next challenge will take place on Saturday against Yemen, who suffered a 3-2 defeat to Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, both currently sitting on three points, will face off to determine which team from Group B advances to the semi-finals.
With the group standings still wide open, the semi-finals are set to feature intense competition next week, as the top two teams from Group A, currently Oman and hosts Kuwait—each with four points—await their opponents. The UAE and Qatar trail behind with just one point from their matches.
During their impressive win, Bahrain nearly took the lead early on when Mahdi Abduljabbar had a volley miss the target following a precision pass from Mahdi Humaidan. Mohammed Jassim Marhoon also made efforts to score, sending his shot over the crossbar. Finally, it was Ali Madan who broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, finishing from close range after receiving a clever low cross from Marhoon, who was set up by Sayed Dhiya Saeed’s run down the left wing.
With the lead at halftime, Bahrain wasted no time doubling their advantage just two minutes after the restart. Receiving a superb pass from Komail Al-Aswad, Madan saw his initial shot blocked but showcased quick reflexes to net the rebound.
On the defensive end, Bahrain's goalkeeper Ebrahim Luthfallah played a salient role, preserving the lead with key saves, including one following Iraq's potential equalizer attempt by Zaid Tahseen Hantoosh. Hantoosh came close to scoring with a header, but it was narrowly off target.
With the match drawing to its closure, Marhoon forced another impressive save from Iraq's keeper, Jalal Hasan Hachim, before Mohammed Al Rumaihi had what would have been another goal disallowed for offside in the 84th minute. This victory marks Bahrain's fourth consecutive appearance in the Gulf Cup semi-finals, showcasing their growth as a competitive team on this regional stage.
Interestingly, Bahrain’s sole championship triumph came back in 2019, when they claimed the title against Saudi Arabia with a thrilling 1-0 finish, setting up expectations for another potential exciting run.
Looking forward to their upcoming matches, Bahrain will aim to build on this success and perform admirably to vie for the championship again, as the tournament draws closer to its finale.
