KUWAIT CITY, May 22: The preliminary round of the Amir Cup concludes this evening with a rescheduled encounter between Al-Arabi and Al-Sulaibikhat, set to kick off at 7:10 pm at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium.

Originally slated for last April, the match was postponed due to Al-Arabi’s involvement in the AFC Challenge League semi-finals.

Tonight’s match holds critical importance for Al-Arabi, who aim to turn the page on a difficult stretch that saw it miss out on two major titles within just eight days. It lost its chance at the Zain Premier League crown after a 2-1 defeat to Kuwait Club in the decisive round on May 11, followed by a narrow loss in the Crown Prince Cup final to Al-Abyad on Monday.

The "Green" side enters the match not just seeking victory, but a fresh start. The team hopes to restore confidence, regain momentum, and launch a serious campaign in Kuwait’s most prestigious knockout competition, now its last remaining opportunity for silverware this season.

On the other side, Al-Sulaibikhat will be hoping to cause an upset and capitalize on Al-Arabi’s recent misfortunes. However, its task is formidable. Al-Sulaibikhat recently missed out on promotion to the Zain Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Jahra in the final round of the Zain First Division League. It needed a win to secure promotion, but the result left it in third place, with Al-Shabab advancing instead.

In another rescheduled fixture, Al-Qadsia secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Burgan, booking a spot in the Amir Cup quarterfinals where it will face Al-Fahaheel this Sunday.

Under the watchful eye of Syrian coach Firas Al-Khatib, the “Yellows” looked in full control after racing to a 3-0 lead, courtesy of goals from Khaled Sabah (19’), Bader Al-Mutawa (22’), and Ismail Khafi (61’). But Burqan mounted a fierce comeback, with Hamoud Al-Sahli scoring twice (63’ and 77’) to narrow the gap and apply late pressure.

Al-Qadsia nearly paid the price for its defensive complacency, but held on until the final whistle to seal the win.

A moment of concern for Al-Qadsia came early in the match when defender Khaled Ibrahim collided with Burgan’s Isaac James. Ibrahim was taken to the hospital, underwent medical tests, and has since been cleared to play in Sunday’s quarterfinal.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah /Arab Times Staff