KUWAIT, May 25 (KUNA) -- Al-Arabi club were crowned Sunday as champions of the 46th Amir Football Cup after winning over rivals Salmiya by 2-1.
The first half of match, which was held in Kuwait sports club stadium in Kaifan area, saw both teams tied at 1-1.
Al-Arabi first goal came in the 27th minute of the match by means of an on-goal scored by Salmiya's Omani national Hassan Mudaffar.
The 44th minute saw Al-Arabi's goalie Mohammad Ghanem sent out after he touched the ball with his hands out the side the box. He was replaced by Bader Al-Azmi.
In the third minute of extra time, Faraj Laheeb of Salmiya equalized the score from a set piece which Al-Azmi failed to save.
The second half saw Salmiya's Brazilian national Andre Renardo sent off at the 18 minute.
The winning goal came at the first minute of the first extra half through Al-Arabi's renowned Syrian striker Firas Al-Khatib who turned the Salmiya's defense upside down before releasing the killer goal.
Al-Salmiya tried to equalize but the match went to Al-Arabi.
Al-Arabi now have 15 Amir Cups under their belts since the tournament began in 1962 followed by Qadsiya with 12 titles, Kuwait with eight, Kazma with six, Salmiya and Yarmouk with two titles, and finally Fahaheel with one.
Copyright Kuwait News Agency 2008.
