JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia : Qatar secured a place in the semi-finals of the 27th Gulf Cup after beating Yemen 1-0 on Sunday to make it two wins from two matches in Group B.
Youssef Abdul-Razzaq scored the only goal after substitute Sultan Al-Buraik delivered a cross that substitute Edmilson turned towards Abdul-Razzaq, who finished the move to put Qatar ahead.
The first half ended goalless after Qatar midfielder Issa Lai was forced off with an injury in the ninth minute. Jassim Jaber replaced him.
Yemen continued to provide a challenge after the break, but Qatar eventually found the breakthrough through the substitutes’ combination and Abdul-Razzaq’s finish.
Qatar were also awarded a penalty in the second half, but Akram Afif failed to convert from the spot.
The victory moved Qatar to six points and guaranteed their qualification for the semi-finals from a Group B that also includes the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
Qatar had opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain, while Yemen suffered their second defeat after losing to the UAE in their opening match.
Qatar’s two consecutive victories ensure they will advance from Group B, while Yemen must now look to their remaining match as they seek to end their Gulf Cup campaign with a positive result.
