Abulaziz Hatim scored a hat-trick to give Qatar a 1-0 win over Bahrain.
Doha, Qatar – Qatar opened the FIFA Arab Cup with a narrow victory over Bahrain on Tuesday with a goalless draw against their Gulf rivals.
In other matches, Tunisia beat Mauritania 5-1 and Iraq and Oman drew 1-1 on the first day of the tournament.
After the opening ceremony of Al Bayt Stadium, Bahrain started out as a better club, but Qatar persevered before the end of the first half.
Earlier in Bahrain, Abdulwahab al-Malood missed a small goal after hitting the ball.
Qatar’s Mohammad Waad had a dangerous chance in the 18th minute, hitting the ball until half-time, but Bahrain defender Sayed Mohamed Abbas hit it with his right hand and threw it into defense.
In the 57th minute, Abulaziz Hatim ran the free kick until Ahmad Fathi entered the court and the ball bounced off the crossbar. Qatar continued to dominate the game as Ali Moez Ali made a fine pass from Akram Afif from his head 64 cm from the goal in the 64th minute.
Qatar finally jumped in the 68th minute. Hatim headed home the winner of the Asian Cup with a victory.
Participants in the FIFI World Cup 2022, Qatar have not won in Bahrain since joining in 2004. Group A includes Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and four Iraqi champions.
Tunisia 5 Mauritania 1
Tunisia beat Mauritania 5-1 at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium. Seifeddine Jaziri scored two goals, Firas Belarabi added one goal, and Youssef Msakni scored again at the end of the second half.
The only goal for the Mauritanian team was scored by Moulay Bessam who put it on a penalty kick.
The Tunisian team has secured the first three points in Group B, which includes the United Arab Emirates and Syria.
Iraq 1 Oman 1
Iraq scored late in a thrilling match against Oman to secure a 1-1 draw on Tuesday at Al Janoub Stadium.
Saleh al-Yehani scored in Oman’s 78th minute after beating Iraqi player Fahad Talib in the right corner. Following the VAR suggestion, Hasan Abdulkareem responded to the Iraqi shooting in the fourth minute of the suspension.
The final game of the day will see the United Arab Emirates face Syria.
The FIFA Arab Cup tournament lasts with Qatar until December 18 and participates in 16 teams.
Iraq, the most successful team in the history of the competition, has four titles followed by Saudi Arabia and two. Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia each have won the competition once.
