Emirati Youngsters Fall Short to Saudi Arabia in Gulf Cup Final

Saudi Arabia's under-17 national team claimed the Gulf Cup title after defeating their opponents 2-0 in Friday's final at Hamad Al-Kabeer Stadium in Doha. The victory marks another youth tournament success for Saudi football, while the losing team secured second place in what proved to be a one-sided affair.

The match started cautiously, with both teams feeling each other out during the opening minutes. Saudi Arabia found their rhythm around the 15-minute mark when Abdulrahman Sufyani tested the goalkeeper with a powerful shot that narrowly missed the post.

Three minutes later, Abdulaziz Al-Fawaz broke the deadlock. He skillfully received the ball, weaved past two defenders, and slotted it into the net to give Saudi Arabia the lead. The goal seemed to boost the team's confidence as they continued pressing forward.

Goalkeeper Jasim Al-Hammadi kept his team in the game with a crucial save from Abu Bakr Saeed's dangerous effort in the 43rd minute. But the pressure proved too much. Sufyani doubled Saudi Arabia's advantage two minutes before halftime, pouncing on a loose ball in the penalty area and firing it straight into the goal.

The second half saw improved play from the losing side, but they struggled to create clear scoring chances. Saudi Arabia controlled the midfield and looked comfortable with their two-goal cushion.

Substitute Mohammed Madkhali nearly extended the lead in the 59th minute when his powerful shot deflected off multiple players before hitting the crossbar and bouncing out of play. Al-Hammadi almost gifted Saudi Arabia a third goal when he fumbled a routine save, but his defenders cleared the danger.

The goalkeeper made amends with another save from Madkhali's effort in the 75th minute, but by then the result was already decided. Saudi Arabia saw out the remaining minutes to secure their Gulf Cup triumph at youth level.

This victory adds to Saudi Arabia's growing reputation in regional youth competitions. The team showed maturity beyond their years, particularly in how they managed the game after taking their two-goal lead. For the runners-up, reaching the final represents progress, but they'll need to work on converting their possession into meaningful attacks if they want to challenge for titles in future tournaments.