FIFA Arab Cup - Group C: Egypt 1-1 Kuwait

Doha: Kuwait held Egypt to a 1-1 stalemate in their FIFA Arab Cup 2025 Group A tie at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday.

After a listless opening half, Fahed Al Hajri gave Kuwait the lead with a towering header, only to be undone by goalkeeper Suod Alhoushan’s red card in the 83rd minute, with Mohamed Afsha equalising for Egypt from the spot.

Kuwait will face Jordan on Saturday, while Egypt take on UAE.

Kuwait came under a barrage of shots with Ghanam Mohamed forcing Alhoushan to tip his shot from distance over the bar in the opening minute, with the Kuwait keeper keeping out Mohamed Elneny three minutes later before Yassin Marei and Ragab Nabil both saw their headed attempts sail over the bar.

Egypt were barely tested until the 29th minute when Mohammad Daham whipped in a pin-point free-kick into the box, only for Yousef Nasser to see his volleyed attempt sail over the bar.

Egypt kept up the pressure and were awarded with a penalty after Abdulwahab Alawadhi’s foul on Eslam Eissa, but Amro Elsoulia sent his spot-kick wide to the left.

Kuwait had their nerves tested again in the closing stages with Alhoushan coming to their rescue in the 45th minute when he kept out Elneny’s dipping shot from outside the box.

The West Asian side continued to soak up the pressure in the second and were let off the hook again just before the hour mark with Mohamed Sherif’s low shot slipping past Alhoushan and just wide of the left post.

However, it was Kuwait, who left Egypt stunned in the 64th minute when they took the lead with Al Hajri powering home a header into the top right corner off Daham’s corner.

Kuwait could have doubled their lead in the 81st minute when substitute Eid Alrashidi collected a stray ball from his own half before surging down the right and supplying a well-timed pass to Daham, but the Kuwait SC forward had his shot saved by Egypt keeper Mohamed Bassam.

Things took a turn for the worse for Helio Sousa’s side when Alhoushan was sent off in the 83rd minute after picking up his second yellow card for his foul on Marwan Hamdy, with Afsha scoring from the ensuing penalty past substitute keeper Sulaiman Abdulghafour.

Photos: Kuwait Football Association

Group C: Egypt 1-1 Kuwait

Wins for Japan, Australia

QF: Japan fall to Brazil

Europe Wrap: Asia’s best continue to shine

Australia lead AFC Women’s Club Competition Mid-Season Ranking

Group A: Qatar 0-1 Palestine