After a goalless match: penalties send Saudi Arabia through to the final of Gulf Cup 27

Saudi Arabia scrape through

Saudi Arabia have reached the final of the 27th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup, "Gulf 27", after seeing off Qatar.

The Green Falcons triumphed on penalties, settling a semi-final that finished goalless through normal and extra time. The two sides met today, Saturday, at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah.

Normal time delivered nothing but a stalemate. Saudi Arabia dominated throughout and threatened the Qatari goal, but could not find a breakthrough, and the game drifted into extra time.

The pattern held. Saudi Arabia kept pressing and twice appealed for a penalty, only for the referee to wave both away, and the extra 30 minutes ended goalless too.

From the spot, Saudi Arabia prevailed 3-2. Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Mohamed Kanno and Mukhtar Ali all converted, while Hassan Tambakti and Firas Al-Buraikan missed.

Qatar replied through Edmilson and Al-Jarrahi, but Al-Moez Ali, Jassem Jaber and Khoukhi Boualem all failed to score.

Saudi Arabia now await the winner of Oman against the UAE in the Gulf 27 final next Tuesday at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah.