Umm Salal, Al Arabi aim for victory before winter break
Umm Salal take on Al Arabi in the QNB Stars League today at the Al Gharafa stadium. Al Arabi are seventh in the standings with 18 points, while Umm Salal are close behind, in eighth with 17 points.
Both teams will be keen to end their campaign on a winning note before the QNB Stars League takes a long break with this match. The tournament will resume only after the Asian Cup in the UAE in January next year.
Umm Salal played out a goalless draw with Al Ahli, whereas Al Arabi defeated Al Kharaitiyat 2-1 in Week 14. Al Arabi coach Hatem al-Moaddeb said that they were eager to go into the break with a positive result against Umm Salal while admitting the latter are a fighting unit. “After our victory over Al Kharaitiyat last week, the mood in our team camp is upbeat as we head for the Umm Salal game before the league takes a long break. While underlining the fact that our players are staying confident, I must admit that Umm Salal are formidable competitors who have put up some incredible displays this season. Their performance against Al Ahli in the last round was an example,” said al-Moaddeb.
“We have a lot of confidence in our players even when we lose. We are looking forward to entering the break in high spirit. It is possible if we come out with a positive result against Umm Salal. We need to keep performing well. We are optimistic and confident,” he added. Al Arabi will be without Mailson Farias due to suspension.
Meanwhile, Umm Salal’s assistant coach Bouziane Ben Arabi said the three points from this game would make his players comfortable and motivated during the long winter break. “We played a tactically-strong game against Al Ahli in the last round though it ended in a goalless draw. The reality is that Umm Salal deserve a better position,” he said. “The three points from the Al Arabi game before the break will mean a lot to us. It will make the players comfortable and motivate everyone, especially since the winter break is going to be long this time around,” Bouziane added.
Umm Salal will mainly be served by Yannick Sagbo, Mahmoud a- Mawas and Ismail Mahmoud, while they will miss the services of injured Moroccan defender Adil Rhaili.
Umm Salal will certainly be wary of Al Arabi, given that they suffered a 1-5 loss when the teams faced off in the first leg.
In today’s opening match, Al Khor, who are in dire need of points as they face high-flying Al Sailiya. Al Khor are 11th in the standings with nine points, only behind bottom-placed Al Kharaitiyat. Al Sailiya are fifth currently and will go to third if they win today. Al Khor drew 1-1 with Al Shahania, while Al Sailiya lost to Qatar SC 0-1 in the last round. Al Khor will be aiming for full points so that they can take the long break after this week’s action in a good frame of mind as they are also in the danger zone.
Al Khor will have to be at their best if they are to restrict Al Sailiya from bagging full points as the latter will be strengthened by the return of strikers Rachid Tiberkanine and Abdelkader Ilyas. On the other hand, Al Sailiya will have to be back on winning ways if they are to stay in the top four. Al Rayyan and Al Ahli are close behind them with one and two points less respectively. Al Sailiya had beaten Al Khor 2-1 in the first leg.
Al Khor coach Bernard Casoni said: “Al Sailiya are a good team that includes players of the highest level. They are a well-organised side and their third place in the rankings makes it difficult for us. Despite the difficulty of the confrontation, we have the desire to win and win the three points. Our task is not easy. The confrontation is arduous. We have to be good in the defence and offence.”