Al-Khatib: Physical condition and the red card contributed to the "White" team's loss

Yahya Humaidan

Firas Al-Khatib, the Syrian head coach of Kuwait SC’s first football team, attributed the 2-3 defeat to UAE’s Al-Wahda two days ago at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, which marked the opening match of Group 1 in the AFC Champions League Two, to two factors: the opponent’s physical superiority and the red card shown to Bahraini player Mohammed Marhun in the 60th minute.

Al-Khatib added after the match: “I congratulate Al-Wahda on their victory. The game was beautiful and entertaining, with five goals scored, and it was decided in the final moments.”

He continued: “I thank the Kuwait players for the effort they put in after surpassing themselves following the red card. However, Al-Wahda was physically superior even before the dismissal, and afterward the gap in their favor became significant. We tried to hold onto the result or score, but we were unsuccessful.”

Al-Khatib affirmed that he and the technical staff bear responsibility for the defeat and that it cannot be blamed on Japanese referee Ryo Tanimoto. He noted that “Al-Abyad” (Kuwait) entered the second half in a better state, but the red card contributed to our team’s loss. He also praised Kuwait’s international goalkeeper Saud Al-Houshan for his outstanding saves during the match, which helped keep the team in the game until the very end.

Kuwait took an early two-goal lead through Tunisian Taha Yassine Khenissi (5th minute) and Cameroonian Omar Gonzalez (8th minute), before Al-Wahda scored three goals via Malian Moussa Diarra (23rd minute), Venezuelan Rene Rivas (87th minute), and Belgian Christian Benteke (90+7th minute).

Kuwait will play their second-round match against Bahrain’s Al-Khalidiya on October 14 at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.