Kuwait on a Mission to Secure Points Against Al-Khalidiya

Kuwait hosts their Bahraini counterparts Al-Khaldiya this evening at the Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium in the Sulaibikhat Club, as part of the second round of Group A in the 2022 AFC Champions League Two football tournament.

Also playing today in the same group are Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi and their Emirati guests, Al-Ittihad Kalba, in Tashkent.

Kuwait currently sit fourth in their group table with no points, after losing 3-2 to Al-Ittihad Kalba in the opening round. The Emiraki side tops the group with three points, while Al-Khaldiya and Nasaf Qarshi each have one point following their 0-0 draw in the first round.

Kuwait are aiming for nothing less than a victory in today’s crucial and decisive match to ensure their continued presence in the competition and avoid complicating their situation in the coming rounds.

Kuwait’s coach, Syrian Firas Al-Khatib, relies on his usual lineup, with Saud Al-Houshan in goal; a defensive quartet comprising Sami Al-Sane, Congolese player Malick Zola, Cameroonian Omar Gonzalez, and Mishaari Al-Ghanam; and a midfield featuring Moroccan Mehdi Berrahma, Ali Hussein, Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, Mohammed Daham, and Amr Abdel Fattah (Amouri). Tunisian Tahar Yassine Khenissi leads the attack.

Kuwait will be without the services of their Bahraini international Mohammed Marhoon, who was sent off in the previous match against Al-Ittihad Kalba, as well as Mohsen Fallah due to injury.

On the other side, Al-Khaldiya, led by Croatian coach Goran Tomić, boast an impressive squad of Bahraini national team players, including Mehdi Al-Humaidan, Mohammed Al-Rumaihi, and Hazaa Ali, alongside several notable foreign professionals such as Brazilian Gleison Moreira, Ricardo da Silva, and Moroccan Walid Sabbar.

Al-Khaldiya currently sit second in the Bahraini Premier League table with eight points after four rounds.