Players in action during the Amir Cup match.

KUWAIT CITY, May 25: The quarterfinal stage of the Amir Cup wraps up this evening with two exciting matchups. Al-Salmiya will take on Al-Nasr at 7:15 pm at Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, while Al-Arabi faces Al-Jahra at 8:15 pm at Thamer Stadium.

Al-Salmiya enters tonight’s clash looking to revive its season after a disappointing campaign that saw it fall short in the Crown Prince Cup and settle for fourth place in the Zain Premier League. Its path to the quarterfinals was far from easy, edging past Al-Sahel 3-2 in the preliminary round.

Despite holding two league victories over Al-Nasr this season—winning 3-1 and 2-1—Al-Salmiya is approaching the cup match with caution. The unpredictability of knockout football was evident in the previous round, where top-tier sides Al-Qadsiya and Al-Arabi struggled to dispatch First Division opponents. Al-Qadsiya narrowly defeated Burgan 3-2, while Al-Arabi needed penalties to overcome Al-Sulaibikhat after a 2-2 draw.

Al-Nasr, for its part, is determined to reach the semi-finals and make a strong impression in the tournament. Having battled to remain in the Premier League, finishing second in the relegation group, the team knows tonight’s match demands both grit and quality.

In the second quarterfinal, Al-Arabi hopes to move past its shaky performance against Al-Sulaibikhat and claim a convincing win to keep its title hopes alive. The Greens are chasing the only remaining domestic trophy after narrowly missing out on the league title and falling to Kuwait Club in the Crown Prince Cup final.

Al-Arabi’s players are aware that success tonight will require full focus and effort as they aim to cap a competitive season on a high note.

Meanwhile, Al-Jahra has emerged as a surprise contender. After eliminating Kazma with a 4-2 victory in the preliminary round, they now aim to extend their strong form. Fresh from topping the First Division and earning promotion to the Premier League, the "Sons of the Red Palace" are hungry for more success.

Coach Mohammed Dahilis will be counting on his players to deliver a standout performance as they face one of Kuwait’s football heavyweights.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff