Bahrain storm into semis, Saudi survive Yemen scare

The 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait is turning into one for the ages after another round of thrilling Group B matches on the fourth day of action on Wednesday.Bahrain booked their place in the semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Iraq, and Saudi Arabia came from 2-0 down to beat Yemen 3-2 in a game.At the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium, Bahrain opened the scoring through Ali Madan after the Iraqi defence was sliced open down the left, allowing the wide man to connect with a cross unmarked and finish from close range.The same player made it 2-0 a minute into the second half when the defence was caught napping, allowing him to score at the second attempt. The win moves them to six points from two games, guaranteeing passage through to the last four with one more group match to play against Yemen on Saturday.In the evening’s opening match at the Jaber Al Mubarak International Stadium, Yemen stunned Saudi Arabia by taking the lead in the eighth minute when a short corner resulted in some fine work from captain Abdulwasea al-Matari whose pin-point cross was met by the head of Harwan al-Zubaidi.That lead was doubled in the 27th minute when a short back pass was intercepted by Abdulmajeed Sabarah to poke past the advancing keeper and send the Yemen fans wild. But the two-goal lead was short-lived as Saudi Arabia hit back just two minutes later. A well-worked free kick found Mohammed Kanno unmarked to head home and reduce the arrears to 2-1 at the break.The game then turned on a controversial penalty awarded to Saudi Arabia early in the second half for handball following a lengthy VAR check. Musab al-Juwayr kept his calm from the spot to bring the scores level.Despite Saudi pressure, the game appeared to be heading to a draw, but in the fourth added minute, Abdullah Alhamddan broke Yemeni hearts with a vital winner, setting Group B up for a frantic finale on Saturday night when the winner of Saudi Arabia and Iraq will advance to the semi-finals with Bahrain.Saudi coach Herve Renard was not too pleased with his side’s performance and said the team lacked the focus. The Frenchman said: "Skills are essential in football, but concentration is equally critical. I noticed a lack of focus throughout the match. We are working on improving this, especially since it is vital in international competitions.”Renard acknowledged the difficulty of the Gulf Cup tournament, stating: "This is a very challenging competition. While the team has qualified for the World Cup several times, the Gulf Cup presents its own unique difficulties. Our start was not ideal, but I hope today marks a turning point for us.”Renard explained the decision to replace midfielder Abdulelah Hawsawi early in the game. "I was not satisfied with his first ten minutes, particularly his insistence and body language. At this international level, players must display greater desire. Hawsawi is a good player with potential for growth in the future.”Reflecting on the match itself, Renard noted its unpredictability: "Today’s game was unusual, but such scenarios are part of football. The positive aspect was our ability to come back after being two goals down. As a coach, you must consider the players’ energy and readiness.”Renard also shared his halftime strategy: "I told the players at halftime that we would come back. They continued their offensive work while avoiding defensive errors. Mistakes and successes are collective, and I reminded them of that during the break. Today’s game reminded me of our comeback against Uzbekistan, which became a turning point for us. I hope this match serves a similar purpose.”Renard’s focus on mental readiness and team cohesion will be critical as Saudi Arabia aims to build momentum in the Gulf Cup.