Defending Gulf Cup champions UAE failed to maintain a two-goal lead at Riyadh on Monday as 10-time holders Kuwait held them to a draw to maintain top spot in their group on Monday.
Kuwait are the only team to have won the opening fixture of the regional eight-nation tournament, and have now extended their tally at the top of Group B to four points, edging ever so closer to the quarter final.
An eventful first half at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Stadium included four goals, two of which were deposited by Emirati forward Ali Mabkhout in the 18th and 35th minutes respectively.
The lead however did not last long, as in a dramatic turn of events, the lead was cancelled out in the space of five minutes through back-to-back goals from Yousef Al-Salman and Bader Al-Mutawaa.
Mabkhout sent a volley surging over Nawaf Al-Khaldi, before heading a cross sent inside the area to the left of the keeper, before the Emiratis saw their first possible victory slip away.
Three-time holders Iraq meet Oman later in the day after being defeated in their match with Kuwait, looking for a win to reignite hopes for the next round while Oman look to overturn an earlier draw against UAE.
Kuwait will wait patiently for the result, as they look to continue the unbeaten run in the competition against Oman on Thursday.
Fresh from qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup, the most nation to have won the popular regional event are looking to achieve an 11th title but have been drawn in the tougher of the two groups alongside teams with a total 16 titles amongst them.
Source: KUNA