Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Qatar came from behind to win the 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations with a 2-1 triumph over hosts Saudi Arabia in Wednesday’s final at the King Fahd International Stadium.
It was the Saudis who had taken the lead in the 16th minute when captain Saud Kariri was left unmarked inside the area to meet Nawaf Al Abid’s corner and nod the ball beyond Qasem Burhan’s despairing dive and into the far corner.
However, Al Annabi equalised just two minutes in similar fashion as Almahdi Ali Mukhtar climbed highest amidst a sea of players and steered his header into the back of the net, after being picked out by Hassan Al Haidous’ corner.
And two minutes before the hour mark, the Qataris went on to claim the victory after opposition defender Abdullah Al Dawsari – in a bid to clear a dangerous freekick by Al Haidous – could only head the ball as far as to Boualem Khouki, who met it with a sweetly-struck volley that flew past Waleed Abdullah to win it for his side.
The triumph was Qatar’s third Gulf Cup title following their successes in 1992 and 2004, and was the second major championship they have won this year after being crowned champions of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Championship back in January.
After overcoming a slow start to win the Gulf Cup, Qatar are now looking in good shape ahead of next January’s AFC Asian Cup 2015 in Australia, where they will meet Iran, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in Group C.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro will have the task of rejuvenating his players’ spirits ahead of the Asian Cup, given they face a tricky route to the knockout round having been drawn in Group B alongside Uzbekistan, China and DPR Korea.