Qatar lose to Iraq in Gulf Cup opener

Doha: Hosts Qatar were stunned 2-1 by Iraq in the opening game of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup, as the United Arab Emirates cruised past Yemen 3-0.

It was Mohammed Kassem who scored both goals for Iraq, while Abdul Aziz Hatim scored the lone Qatari goal.

In the tournament's second game, it was the UAE's Ali Mabkhout who became a hat trick hero on the night when he plundered all three goals against the Yemenis.

"The United Arab Emirates begain their group at the 24th Gulf Cup by beating the Yemeni team by three goals during the match between the two teams at Al Duhail in Doha, as the national team's top scorer Ali Mabkhout scored a hat-trick in the 22nd, 38th and 55th minutes," said an official of the UAE Football Association.