Al-Abyad: Recalculating the Scores
Kuwait squandered a 2-1 first-half lead to fall 2-3 to UAE’s Al-Wehda in a match played the day before yesterday as part of Group 1 in the AFC Champions League Two. The “White Knights” took an early lead through Taha Al-Khanisi in the fifth minute, with Omar Gonzalez adding a second in the eighth. Al-Wehda pulled one back via Moussa Diarra in the 23rd minute, before host Rene Rivas equalized in the 87th minute. Christian Benteke then struck in the 90+7th minute to seal the win. Al-Wehda collected their first three points of the tournament to top the group, while Al-Khalidiya and Nasaf drew 0-0 in the other Group 1 fixture.
The match was a rollercoaster across both halves. Kuwait held the advantage, executing rapid attacks in the opening eight minutes. Their players performed well, with clear tactical discipline allowing them to control the game for most of the first half, thanks to the efforts of Amr Abdel-Fattah, Mohammed Marhun, and Mohammed Daham, as well as a defensive display that effectively stifled the opposition’s attempts.
However, chaos descended on the Kuwaiti side in the second half after they retreated early to protect their lead, a tactic that allowed Al-Wehda to seize control of the game. Mohammed Marhun’s dismissal in the 60th minute, following a yellow card, created a significant gap in the team’s structure. Although coach Firas Al-Khatib made several substitutions—bringing on Yousef Nasser up front, and Ahmed Al-Zafiri and Abdullah Al-Qarzi in midfield, along with Sami Al-Sanai—these changes proved ineffective under the pressure exerted by the opponents, who dominated possession in Kuwait’s midfield and consistently won second balls.
Consequently, the Kuwaiti goal came under intense pressure. Saoud Al-Houshan was outstanding, making several crucial saves and earning man of the match honors; without his brilliance, Kuwait would likely have suffered a heavy defeat.
A key criticism of the compact Kuwaiti defense is its inability to deal with crosses, particularly by Malik Zola and Gonzalez. This is evidenced by the fact that all three goals were scored from headers, indicating a flaw in the defenders’ positioning and their handling of crosses in front of goal.
Furthermore, greater emphasis should be placed on quick build-up play in midfield, given the team’s possession of high-quality players capable of effective two-man combinations and forward runs. It is inconceivable to substitute Amr Abdel-Fattah, who excels at building attacks quickly and beating opponents. The midfield required more effort, especially given the defensive retreat and the complete absence of attacking supply to Yousef Nasser.
Another issue is assigning Mohammed Marhun to a full-back role during certain periods, which deprives the team of his exceptional offensive contributions. Coach Firas Al-Khatib must address these errors in the coming period, particularly as they occurred at the outset of the campaign.
