Asian Cup R16 Match: Kuwait Win on Penalties over Saudi Arabia

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Asian Cup Round of 16 Match: Kuwait v Saudi Arabia

Kuwait Win on Penalties over Saudi Arabia

January 18th, 2020

Kuwait 2 Saudi Arabia 2 (4-2 on penalties)

 

Kuwait continued to surprise the Asian footballing world with a win in a penalty shootout over Saudi Arabia.

 

Kuwait had the early semi-opportunity, only for multiple players to be deemed offside.

 

Instead, Firas Al Birakan scored as he led onto a ball, hitting it first time into the back of the net in the tenth minute.

 

Al Birakan had another attempt seven minutes later, only to be halted by Kuwaiti goalkeeper Hameed Youssuf.

 

Two offsides kept Saudi Arabia away from goal, and Kuwait seemed to wrestle momentum back just before the closure of the first half.

 

Instead, Saudi Arabia scored again, taking complete control of the match. Haroune Camara needed two attempts to ruffle the net, as Youssuf stopped the first with his foot.

 

Almost immediately, Kuwait responded with a goal as Faisal Al Harbi also needed two efforts, with the Saudi Arabian goalkeeper saving the first shot.

 

Suddenly, a long through ball to Ahmed Zanki coming from right midfield had the game on equal terms, and Kuwait ready to take the game away from their neighbours.

 

Instead, Saudi talisman Camara nearly scored, needing a choice Youssuf save.

 

Both sides had one more half chance, but with the potential of losing, neither side pressed hard enough for the winning goal.

 

At five minutes into extra time, Saudi substitute Abdulelah Al Malki caught possession from a poor clearance, only for Youssef to make yet another save.

 

The Saudis stepped up the attack as Abdullah Otayf set up Hattan Bahebri, only for Youssuf to save again. The clearance fell back to Otayf, who powered with his right foot, only for Youssuf to dive and save with his left glove. Salman Al Faraj ended up with the ball from the resulting corner, though the defenders guided him to a tighter angle and his shot was far too weak.

 

Bahebri nearly scored for the Saudis as the first extra time period came to a close. From the corner, Abdulrahman Al-Dosari rose above two defenders, only to miss to the left.

 

The second half of extra time found no way to goal.

 

In the penalty shootout:

Yousef Nasser scored for Kuwait.

Bahebri scored for Saudi Arabia.

Faisal Al Harbi scored.

Nawaf Al Abid missed.

Hamad Al Harbi scored.

Yasser Al Shahrani scored.

Zanki missed, with the Saudi goalkeeper making the save.

Al Dosari slipped slightly and missed the whole goal.

Fahad Al Ansari pocketed to the right and gained the Quarter Final berth for Kuwait.

 

Saudi Arabia will rue the chance they had, giving up a two-goal lead to end up losing on penalties, particularly when they had the better of the chances.

 

Important aspects of the match:

Goals scored in the 10th, 53rd, 55th and 58th minutes.

 

Kuwait’s best: Youssuf with eleven saves, including two in the penalties; Zanki with his goal, equal most passes overall and equal most dribbles for Kuwait; Faisal Al Harbi with his goal.

Bader Al Mutawa with equal most dribbles for Kuwait.

Sami Al Sanea with most tackles overall.

Fahad Al Rashadi with five key intercepts and three clearances.

Fahad Al Hajeri with three key intercepts and a clearance.

Dhari Said with two key intercepts, a clearance and a block.

 

Saudi Arabia’s best: the front three of Camara; Al Birakan; Bahebri. Both were substituted and this may have proven the difference in the penalty shootout.

Camara with his goal and three shots on target.

Al Birakan with his goal.

Bahebri with his assist and equal most dribbles for the match.

Al Faraj with the equal most passes for the match.

Otayf with equal most dribbles for the match.

Mohammed Khubrani with three key intercepts and two clearances.

Ziyad Al Sahafi with four key clearances and two intercepts.