Al-Sahel secures Premier League promotion as battle for second spot goes down to the wire

Al-Sahel players celebrate after sealing qualification.

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 18: Al-Sahel has secured promotion to the Premier League after playing out a goalless draw with Al-Sulaibikhat at Nasser Al-Osaimi Stadium in the 20th and penultimate round of the First Division League.

The result took Al-Sahel's tally to 44 points, leaving them at the top of the standings. They will meet Al-Yarmouk tomorrow in their final game, with victory enough to seal the First Division title and maintain their position at the summit.

The race for the second promotion spot, however, remains wide open, with Al-Sulaibikhat, Al-Yarmouk, and Al-Jazeera all still in contention.

Al-Sulaibikhat sits second on 41 points and can secure promotion by beating Al-Jazeera tomorrow. A draw would also be sufficient if Al-Yarmouk fails to beat Al-Sahel.

Al-Jazeera kept its hopes alive with an impressive 2-0 win over Al-Yarmouk at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium. The victory moved the newcomer to 38 points, four behind second-placed Al-Sulaibikhat.

Al-Jazeera now needs to defeat Al-Sulaibikhat and hope Al-Yarmouk loses to Al-Sahel to claim the second promotion ticket. Al-Yarmouk, meanwhile, must win its final game and hope Al-Sulaibikhat drop points against Al-Jazeera.

In the other two matches, Khaitan cruised to a 5-0 victory over Sporty, while Burgan defeated Al-Shamiya 4-1.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff