RIYADH, 17 January — A stirring display of attacking soccer by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait kicked off the Gulf Cup soccer tournament with the teams sharing goals and honors in a thrilling 1-1 draw here yesterday at the King Fahd International Stadium.

Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, declared the GCC soccer extravaganza open to a reverberating applause of the fans who had packed the stadium in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia, favorites after their striking campaign in the Asian qualifiers had clinched a spot in the forthcoming World Cup in Japan and South Korea, seemingly took off from where they had left off with an attacking start. After a sustained pressure on the Kuwaiti goal, Saudi Arabia notched their first goal with captain Sami Al-Jaber’s smashing shot to the far corner of the net in the 15th minute of the game.

Prompted by a short forward left-foot pass by Hasan Al-Yami, Jaber used the width superbly to send in a clinical shot past the advancing Kuwaiti goalkeeper.

The goal boosted the morale of Saudis, who for all their territorial superiority in the first half, failed to translate it into goals, leaving the game on knife’s edge at the break. A rejuvenated Kuwait took the offensive in the second half, and striker Jasim Al-Huwaidi proved opportunistic in snatching the equalizer in the 48th minute.

The record crowd at the floodlit stadium was treated to excellent passes, individual flair and some courageous defense from both sides in a match which had it all — excitement, near-misses and goals.

Saudi Arabia could have ended the day with maximum points as they had the better of the exchanges in the match. They also came close on numerous occasions, but finishing was not their strong point yesterday.

Although Kuwait had their moments with some incisive and speedy moves, they invariably failed to push it past the Saudi defense, either for want of ideas or want of a complement at the front. They employed the long ball to good effect, but with the Saudi defense showing fine anticipation this tactics was effectively closed out. They received three of the four yellow cards flashed yesterday.

Also Saudi goalkeeper Muhammad Al-Daeyeh was in fine fettle as he effected some fine saves to keep the Saudis from falling into arrears. In the 11th minute he had the angle covered as he held on to a pile-driver from Jasim Al-Huwaidi in what could have been a sure goal.

The Saudis too were unlucky when they saw Ibrahim Matter’s powerful shot saved by Kuwaiti keeper Nawaf Al-Khaledi, who too had a good day beneath the bar.

Saudi coach Nasser Al-Jawhar rung in a number of changes in a bid to garner all three points in the opening efforts. He, however, saw his side ending up defending in the latter part of the match.

Kuwait, who have won the Gulf Cup a record nine times, are hoping to make amends for their poor showing in the World Cup qualifiers. Their German coach Berti Vogts believes that a good start “will put his boys in the right frame of mind.”

The United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain are the other teams contesting the 15th edition of the tournament.

The colorful inauguration featured an operetta participated by 23 GCC singers and folklore performers and spectacular fireworks.

Earlier, addressing the ceremony, Prince Sultan ibn Fahd, chief of the Youth Welfare Presidency and chairman of the supreme organizing committee, welcomed the national teams of the GCC member states to their second country.

Crown Prince Abdullah honored Asir Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal by presenting a gift as the Gulf Cup was his brainchild.

He also presented another gift to Prince Nawaf ibn Faisal in honor of the late Prince Faisal ibn Fahd in appreciation of his efforts to promote sports in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. The opening ceremony was attended by dignitaries from the GCC member states and other Arab countries.

The remaining matches will be held in the following schedule:

Jan. 17: UAE vs. Oman; Qatar vs. Bahrain; Jan. 19: Kuwait vs. Oman; Jan. 20: UAE vs. Qatar; Saudi Arabia vs. Bahrain; Jan. 22: Kuwait vs. Bahrain; Jan. 24: Oman vs. Qatar; Saudi Arabia v UAE; Jan. 26: Kuwait vs. Qatar; Jan. 27: Bahrain vs. UAE; Saudi Arabia vs Oman; Jan. 29: Kuwait vs UAE; Bahrain vs Oman; Jan. 30: Qatar vs Saudi Arabia.