Kuwait won the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 with a 2-1 victory against Chinese Taipei, but this was a bitter-sweet victory

Yousef Nasser scored once for each half after Wu Chun-ching equalized for Chinese Taipei just after the restart, as Kuwait finished second with 14 points but lost out on such a spot in the final round of Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The match began on a high note as Kuwait's Bader Al Motawa drew level with Egypt's Ahmed Hassan on 184 international caps after getting his team against Chinese Taipei at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium.

The West Asians, took their time getting into the game, and Al Motawa might have done better in the 10th minute when he mistimed a long-range attempt that Chinese Taipei goalkeeper Shih Shin-an easily stopped.

Fawaz Al Otaibi ran well enough on his overlapping run before setting up Yousef Nasser for an easy finish four minutes later, and Kuwait took the lead.

Chinese Taipei, who had surrendered 33 goals in their previous seven games, dodged in the 38th minute when Al Motawa tried to catch Shih off his line, but his looping attempt was blocked by the crossbar.

Kuwait pushed for a second goal, but Chinese Taipei held strong, with Shih on top of his game to save Hamad Al Harbi's header off an Al Motawa set-piece five minutes before halftime.

Chinese Taipei began the second half more energetically, and their perseverance paid off generously in the 51st minute when captain Wu Chun-ching directed his header past Kuwait goalkeeper Sulaiman Abdulghafoor.

Kuwait, recovered their lead cushion in the 71st minute when Nasser scored a powerful long-range strike off an assist from Al Motawa, leaving Shih stuck to the ground.