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Qatar v Saudi Arabia: Dramatic Gulf Cup semifinal in 10 pictures

Highly anticipated match saw the Green Falcons beat the Maroons 1-0, setting up a showdown between Saudi and Bahrain.

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Gulf Cup [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Qatar faced Saudi Arabia in the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup semifinal on Thursday. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
By Sorin Furcoi and Showkat Shafi
Published On 5 Dec 2019

Al-Wakrah, Qatar– Saudi Arabia have defeated hosts Qatar 1-0 to set up a showdown against Bahrain in the final of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup.

Forward Abdullah Alhamddan scored the match’s only goal when he powered home a header in the 28th minute.

Despite creating a host of chances, Qatar’s Maroons were unable to find the back of the net and keep their title hopes alive.

Earlier on Thursday, Bahrain also booked their place in Sunday’s final after a nail-biting win on penalties against three-time winners Iraq.

Gulf Cup
Qatar's Maroons had secured their spot in the tournament's top four after a 4-2 win against the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
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Gulf Cup [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
More than 42,000 spectators watched the highly-anticipated semifinal at the al-Janoub Stadium in al-Wakra, near Doha. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
[Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
The match saw the hosts starting the game strongly as they tried to break down the Green Falcons' compact defence. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
Gulf Cup [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
But it was the visiting team who scored the semifinal's only goal when forward Abdullah Alhamddan found the back of the net in the 28th minute. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
[Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
Despite a number of chances, Qatar failed to equalise and the send the match to extra time. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
Gulf Cup [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
Qatar's supporters watching the agonising final moments of the game. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]
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[Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
Saudi Arabia will now face Bahrain, who earlier on Thursday beat Iraq, in Sunday's final. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
[Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
Saudi Arabia will make its 10th appearance in the Gulf Cup final, hoping to lift the trophy for a fourth time. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
[Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]
The Gulf Cup final will take place on Sunday, December 8. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]