U-17 Team Draws with Bahrain in Asian Cup Qualifiers

Kuwait’s under-17 national team drew 1-1 with their Bahraini counterparts in the match that brought them together on Sunday, in the opening game of Group 7, held in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman, as part of the qualifiers for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals.

The match was of average quality, particularly in the first half, during which both teams exchanged attacks with a slight edge for Kuwait (the Blues).

Kuwait started the match with attacking moves in search of opening the door on the Bahraini goal. The first dangerous chance came in the 16th minute, when Hassan Al-Ustadh rose to meet a cross and headed it, but the ball went just wide of the right post.

Kuwait managed to convert their advantage into a lead in the 19th minute, when Badar Al-Dawood fired a powerful shot from a direct free kick that found the back of the net.

Al-Dawood tried to extend Kuwait’s lead again in the 38th minute with a strong shot, but Bahraini goalkeeper Adnan Abu Ali made a save, ending the half at 1-1.

In the second half, the play was evenly matched, with both teams exchanging attacks in succession, after Bahrain’s level improved from the 25th minute onwards.

In the final minute of stoppage time, Indonesian referee Nofal issued a second yellow card, followed by a red card, to Bahraini player Hamad Al-Hajri for rough play, concluding the match in a 1-1 draw.