Iraq edge fighting Yemen by Aymen Hussain’s header

MUSCAT: Iraq’s Aymen Hussain scored the most important goal to guide his team to a thrilling 1-0 win over Yemen in the opening match of Group B in the 26th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup at the Jaber al Mubarak Stadium in Kuwait on Sunday night. The only goal of the match was netted by Iraq’s Aymen Hussain through a glorious header in the 64th minute. The triumph meant Iraq earned three crucial points in the first round of the group stage, while Yemen narrowly missed out on a draw. Iraq dominated the first half, aggressively pushing forward through Ali Jassim, Ahmed Hussain, and Aymen Hussain, aiming for an early lead. The first actual attempt for Iraq came in the 8th minute when Ali Jassim sent a strong ball towards Yemen’s goalkeeper Mohammed Aman, but his effort went wide. Seeking their fifth Gulf Cup title, Iraq continued pressing hard against Yemen’s defence to break the deadlock. Iraq’s forward star Aymen Hussain missed the opening goal when his header went wide after a cross from Amjad Atwan in the 13th minute. Yemen’s first significant response came in the 28th minute when Omar al Dahi broke into Iraq’s defensive zone, though his attempt lacked precision. Despite numerous chances, Iraq struggled to penetrate Yemen's resilient defence, and the first half concluded in a goalless draw. Iraq head coach Jesús Casas entered the second half with a different approach, as his players worked hard to find the opening goal. In the 62nd minute, Ali Jassim was very close to scoring when his shot hit the crossbar, keeping Yemen’s net unbroken. Two minutes later, Aymen Hussain delivered the good news for Iraqi fans as he managed to break the deadlock with a powerful header following a perfect cross from Amjad Atwan. The long-awaited goal gave Iraq the lead in the match at 1-0. Yemen responded quickly as Nasser al Jahwoshi tried hard to score the equaliser, but his shot missed the target in the 68th minute. Iraq shifted focus to defence, controlling the midfield and limiting Yemen’s chances. Despite Yemen’s persistent efforts, Iraq successfully maintained their advantage. The final whistle confirmed Iraq’s 1-0 victory, which was attended by 7,200 fans.