Round Eight: Kuwait Moves Ahead, Al-Qadsia Returns, Al-Arabi Shows No Despair

Preparation and analysis: Abdulaziz Jasim - aziz995@

Kuwait took advantage of the results from the eighth round of the Zain Premier League in a distinctive manner, defeating Al-Sahel 3-0 after the runners-up Kazma fell to Al-Salmiya 2-3. Meanwhile, Al-Qadsiah returned to the path of victories with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Al-Jahra, while Al-Arabi secured a last-minute 2-1 victory over Al-Nasr. Al-Tadamon managed to come from behind and overturn the scoreline against Al-Shabab despite playing with a numerical disadvantage, winning 3-1, and Al-Salhiyah drew 2-2 with Al-Fahaheel.

The White Team... Impressive

Kuwait delivered an impressive performance in most of its matches, creating chances, scoring, and taking the lead even when goals were delayed, as seen in the match against Al-Sahel at the end of the first half. When their opponent played with ten men due to a red card, Kuwait exploited the situation and the opportunity, scoring two goals despite a general decline in performance during the second half. This may be attributed to the high number of injuries in their ranks and player fatigue.

The Yellow Team... A Crucial Return

Regardless of Al-Qadsiah’s generally good performance in the match against Al-Jahra, the key point was returning to the path of victories and securing a win after the derby loss in the previous round, which they achieved, albeit with difficulty. The team played with great balance and was the superior side, missing several clear chances. However, their performance did not reach the level of previous rounds leading up to the match against Al-Arabi, which is natural, as a return always takes time.

The Orange Team... Defensive Issues

The defensive line in Kazma represents the biggest problem facing the team. When they lost to Iraqi club Erbil in the Gulf Club Champions League, everyone assumed it was a blip, but they returned in this round and conceded three goals from Al-Salmiya, which were enough to hand them their first league defeat. Conceding nine goals in two matches indicates significant defensive problems that must be addressed urgently, otherwise, they will face more defeats.

The Amber Team... A Repeated Scenario

Al-Nasr and their coach Zahir Al-Adwani failed to recover from the shock of the previous round, when they were forced into a last-second draw with Al-Shabab. In this round, their goal net was hit by the losing goal from Al-Arabi in the same manner, just moments before the referee’s final whistle. This indicates that the team is suffering from depleted physical reserves, which contributes to a loss of concentration in the final minutes. This issue must be addressed quickly, as it causes the waste of an otherwise outstanding level of effort throughout almost the entire match.

The Sky Blue Team... A Successful Return

Al-Salmiya delivered one of their best attacking performances of the season, against Kazma. After taking the lead, they conceded two goals, but their impressive attack saved the team and coach Ali Ashour by scoring two goals to overturn the result and secure a victory at a crucial time. The team had struggled in previous matches with declining results and performance, which had undoubtedly shaken their confidence, but this win has restored it.

The Green Team... Achieved What Was Most Important

Al-Arabi did not display an impressive level in the match against Al-Nasr and struggled considerably, especially in attack. However, credit is due to the team for their ability to come back in the match. After falling behind, they equalized and tried hard to secure a win, which they achieved in the final moments. This result is the most important at present, especially since the league will pause, providing coach Darko with ample time to correct certain issues, particularly the slowness in building up attacks.

Al-Fahaheel...

Al-Fahaheel: A Persistent Decline

Although Al-Fahaheel’s performance against Al-Salhiyah was not outstanding, the team took a two-goal lead and was close to securing victory after a two-match losing streak. The absence of key players, such as Vitor Da Silva, may affect overall performance and results, but this situation should not persist, as the team is clearly struggling with organization across all its lines.

Al-Shabab: A Misreading

Al-Shabab was the better side in their match against Al-Tadamun, taking an early lead and applying pressure that caused some opponents to lose their composure, resulting in a red card for one of their players. All indicators suggested a win, but the team regressed significantly, playing as if reduced to ten men, and conceded three goals in quick succession. The coaching staff remained inactive and undoubtedly bears the greatest responsibility for the defeat.

Al-Jahra: Back to Defense

Al-Jahra reverted to its usual defensive approach against Al-Qadsia, deploying most of its players in defense and lacking dangerous counterattacks, a pattern that often leads to losses either at the start or end of matches. To be fair, defending against Al-Qadsia is understandable, but the team needed to find offensive solutions to exhaust the opponent and create spaces for surprise goals that could have earned them points—an outcome that did not materialize.

Al-Tadamun: Champions After a Red Card

Al-Tadamun’s performance against Al-Shabab served as a lesson in football. The team played at an average level, conceded a goal, and appeared headed for another loss. However, something unexpected occurred: when their defender Walid Saad was sent off, everyone assumed the team would collapse. Instead, the opposite happened. The team changed its approach, attacked fiercely, scored three goals, overturned the scoreline, and secured their second league victory in a remarkable fashion.

Al-Salhiyah: When Will They Win?

Round after round, the question remains: when will Al-Salhiyah secure their first league victory? After eight rounds, they are the only team without a win, despite showing strong performances in several matches and being the better side even against Al-Fahaheel. They outperformed their opponent for most of the match but failed to capitalize due to repeated defensive errors. Nevertheless, their comeback to draw after falling two goals behind is commendable.

Al-Sahel: No Excuses

Al-Sahel struggled to hold firm against Al-Kuwait, defending in an organized manner until a single mistake late in the first half led to a goal and the red card of player Mohammed Al-Rashid. They conceded a second goal early in the second half but fought hard to get back into the game and earned a penalty, which they failed to convert. Al-Kuwait capitalized with a third goal in the first match under new coach Saud Dumaide.