Jeddah, October 04 (QNA) - Julen Lopetegui, head coach of the Qatar national football team, expressed deep disappointment after his side fell 3-2 on penalties to Saudi Arabia following a scoreless draw through regulation and extra time on Saturday in the semifinals of the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Lopetegui noted that Qatar faced a tough match against a strong opponent playing before a massive home crowd. He explained that he made changes to the starting lineup to find the best tactical approach.

The coach added that he opted for a more defensive setup, though the team still created scoring opportunities. He noted that while an attacking approach could have been used, the squad was fatigued and the opponent played defensively, making it difficult to break through before the match was ultimately decided from the penalty spot.

Meanwhile, Greece's Georgios Donis, head coach of the Saudi national team, expressed delight over reaching the final and praised his players' efforts.

Donis acknowledged that facing Qatar presented a difficult challenge, making chance-creation a complex task. He pointed out that while Saudi Arabia managed to create opportunities, they failed to convert them—something he described as a normal part of football.

He added that the tournament's heavy match schedule creates physical challenges for the players, who also had to cope with penalty pressure and officiating decisions, emphasizing that the team's full focus must now shift to the final. (QNA)