By our man in Qatar
AL KHOR, QATAR – Football’s rich history got a massive shot of Gulf glamour as Saudi Arabia put debutants Comoros to the sword last night, cruising to a 3-1 victory in the FIFA Arab Cup.
But the real star of the show wasn’t a player, it was the colossal, tent-like setting!
The spectacular Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, a ground built to look like a giant Bedouin tent, hosted the Group B clash.
The 60,000-seater World Cup venue provided a dazzling backdrop for the Green Falcons to send plucky Comoros packing.
It was always going to be a tough night for the tiny island nation, and Saudi Arabia’s quality soon shone through, making the most of the magnificent stage.
Midfield maestro Mohamed Kanno was on fire, bagging a brilliant brace to put the Saudis in charge.
A flash of hope saw the underdogs briefly pull one back through Ibroihim Youssouf, sending their small pocket of fans inside the imposing stadium into a frenzy.
However, the three points were sealed by the Green Falcons’ captain, Salem Al-Dawsari, who delivered a decisive blow to make it 3-1 and end Comoros’s dream in the shadow of the breathtaking structure.
The match at the Al Bayt Stadium proved that in this part of the world, football is always a spectacle, and the Saudis were more than happy to steal the show.