Al-Ghassani’s brilliance makes the difference.. “Al-Abyad” secures its place in the quarter-finals of the Arab Cup

The national football team reached the quarter-finals of the Arab Cup “Qatar 2025”, after achieving a well-deserved victory over its Kuwaiti counterpart, 3-1, in the meeting that brought them together today at Stadium 974 in the final round of the group stage.

The match began with caution from both sides, with the Kuwaiti team having a relative advantage during the first ten minutes, without goalkeeper Hamad Al-Muqbali being exposed to a real threat.

As time passed, “Al-Abyad” gradually entered the atmosphere of the match, obtaining the first opportunity, when Yahya Al-Ghassani ran past Ahmed Al-Dhafri, who was forced to block him inside the penalty area, and the Chinese referee, Ma Ying, did not hesitate to award a penalty kick, which “Al-Ghassani” successfully executed in the 16th minute.

It did not take long for the national team to increase its lead with the second goal, after a wonderful technical statement, which Caio Lucas finished with a perfect pass to Yahya Al-Ghassani, who confidently put the ball to the left of goalkeeper Khaled Al-Rashidi in the 18th minute.

After the two goals, the match became easier for Al-Abyad, who found space in Kuwait’s defense and came close to adding a third goal through Ali Saleh, but the latter missed a great opportunity while facing the goal directly after his shot collided with Al-Azraq’s defenders.

The Kuwaiti national team entered the second half with a clear attacking tendency, which was almost translated by Mohammed Dahhan with a powerful shot that goalkeeper Hamad Al-Muqbali kept firmly away.

However, the attempts of “Blue” received a severe blow after Sultan Al-Anzi was expelled, after he attacked Yahya Al-Ghassani without the ball. The video assistant referee confirmed the validity of the decision and the Kuwaiti team completed the match from the 53rd minute, with ten players.

But Al-Azraq was able to take advantage of a usual “lapse” from the White defense, so that Fahd Al-Hajri was able to score the goal to reduce the difference, after he pounced on a cross ball and deposited it with his head to the right of “Al-Muqbali”, in the 59th minute.

Nicolas Jimenez re-extended the difference for the national team, after he received the ball from the middle of the field and started steadily, before launching a powerful shot that landed in the upper corner of the Kuwaiti goal in the 66th minute.