Kuwait vs Yemen

Yemen pulled off a notable warm-up win over Kuwait, edging their Gulf neighbors 2-1 in a closed-door friendly in Jeddah on Friday evening. The result raised eyebrows given Kuwait's status as one of the region's stronger sides heading into the upcoming Gulf Cup. Ahmad Maher and Omar Al-Dahi found the net for Yemen, giving them a two-goal cushion before Kuwait pulled one back through Mohammad Dahham, who capitalized on a defensive mix-up at the back. No cards or penalty incidents were reported from the clash. Both sides used the match as a final tune-up for the 27th Gulf Cup, which runs from September 23 to October 6 in Jeddah. The loss is a mild concern for Kuwait, who face a tough Group 1 alongside Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Oman. For Yemen, the confidence-boosting win sets them up nicely before opening their Group 2 campaign against the UAE on September 24.