RIYADH : Saudi Arabia entered the match knowing a victory would strengthen their position in the group following Iraq’s 1-1 draw with Oman, and the hosts controlled much of the contest from the opening whistle.
The Saudi side dominated possession and created the better opportunities in the first half, but struggled to find the finishing touch.
Mohammed Abu Shamat appeared to have broken the deadlock when he found the net, only for the goal to be disallowed after a foul involving teammate Mohammed Kanno was spotted in the build-up.
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Saudi Arabia maintained the pressure after the interval, with coach Georgios Donis’ side continuing to dictate the tempo while Kuwait defended compactly and worked to deny the hosts space in attacking areas.
The breakthrough eventually came when Saudi winger Maher Al-Hamami drove forward down the left flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area.
Kuwait defender Youssef Al-Haqan attempted to clear the ball but inadvertently diverted it into his own net, handing Saudi Arabia the decisive goal.
The 1-0 victory lifted Saudi Arabia to the top of Group A, while Iraq and Oman shared the points following their 1-1 draw earlier in the day.
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