Glory days can return for Kuwait

Kuwait will be eyeing a return to their glorious past when they face Iraq in tonight's opening semi-final of the Gulf Cup in Yemen.

Kuwait have the best record in the Gulf Cup, winning the tournament nine times. But the last time they triumphed in the biennial competition was when they hosted it in 1998.

They have been the most impressive of the eight teams in terms of results, winning against Qatar (1-0) and Yemen (3-0) and holding Saudi Arabia to a goalless draw. They have scored four unanswered goals in the three games, suggesting they are well organised in defence.

"Those results will not matter if you can't win the next game," said Bader al Mutawa, the forward, in a post-match television interview after scoring twice against Yemen. "We are going into a new game and whoever wins it will be in the final."

Iraq have featured in two 0-0 draws and edged out Bahrain 3-2. They will have to improve if they want to progress.

The Asian champions have also won the title three times but the last time they were successful was in 1988.

They have participated in only 11 competitions, nine fewer than Kuwait who have been in all the 20 stagings of the competition.

5pm, Abu Dhabi Sports 1

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