Kuwait take on Iran for gold medal after thrashing Palestine for 7

Kuwait have set themselves up for a West Asian Games gold medal showdown after thrashing hapless Palestine 7-0 on Wednesday. Kuwait and Iran meet on Friday in a game which will decide the football champions after Iran drew 1-1 on matchday four.

Kuwait are in pole position to stop Iran regaining the West Asian Games title that they won in the inaugural competition in Tehran back in 1997, and Iran have to beat their opponents in Friday's dramatic finale to deny the home side glory.

Tournament favourites Kuwait - the only team who have fielded their full international side for the tournament in their home country - overwhelmed Palestine to take a two-point lead in the race for the West Asian Games gold on Wednesday.

The match was all-but decided by half-time as Badr Al-Shemmari opened the scoring on 17 minutes before Faraj Laheeb and Hamad Al-Tayyar added two further goals within eight minutes of the first.

In the second half, Palestine held firm until the 66th minute before their defeat was transformed into a humiliation with three goals in as many minutes. Walid Ali picked out Mohamed Al-Faylakawi for Kuwait's fourth, Khalaf Al-Salama immediately added a fifth and Saleh Al-Briki made it 6-0 from the penalty spot after 68 minutes.

Khalaf completed the rout with his second goal - and the home side's seventh - three minutes from time to leave Kuwait at the to of the rankings with seven points while Syria and Iran are two points behind them with five points.

The 1-1 draw between the two other title challengers was perhaps a less spectacular result than Kuwait's, but Iran have reason to be pleased with their performance and moderately disappointed with the final outcome.

The Iranians looked set for a large win when Javad Nikonam found the net in the 37th minute after being left completely unmarked following a deep cross, and Syria were defending desperately throughout the remainder of the game to keep Iran at bay.

However, the Syrians grabbed a share of the points in dramatic style through the current golden boy of Syrian football, Raja Nafee. With six minutes to go, Syria mounted a rare counter attack and Nafee was able to nod the ball home from close range after Iran's goalkeeper completely misjudged a long cross.