KUNA photo A Kuwait Club player runs with the ball while being harassed by an Al-Salmiya player during the Zain Premier League match.

KUWAIT CITY, May 3: Kuwait Club maintained its lead at the top of the Zain Premier League standings with a dominant 5-0 win over Al-Salmiya in the third round of the group stage, played at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium. Al-Arabi continued its pursuit of the league leader, edging past traditional rivals Al-Qadsiya 1-0 in the same round.

With just two rounds remaining, Kuwait Club sits on 54 points—two ahead of second-placed Al-Arabi. The decisive final rounds are fast approaching: Kuwait Club will meet Al-Qadsiya, while Al-Arabi faces Al-Tadamon in the fourth round this Tuesday. The much-anticipated clash between Kuwait Club ("the Whites") and Al-Arabi ("the Greens") will take place in the fifth and final round next Sunday.

Kuwait Club’s Montenegrin head coach, Nebojsa Jovovic, praised his players' seriousness and intensity from the first whistle, noting that their sharp performance was key to the commanding win over Al-Salmiya.

“Although it wasn’t an easy match, the players managed the game well from start to finish,” Jovovic said. “We must now stay focused and finish the job in the remaining two matches.”

He emphasized that the final phase of the league demands maximum concentration and consistent effort.

Al-Arabi coach Nasser Al-Shatti expressed his determination to push for the title with a short but powerful message on social media: “...until the end.” The message reflects his team’s persistence and ambition following a crucial derby win.

Al-Arabi has now won four out of five recent matchups against Al-Qadsiya, including both home and away league fixtures (2-1 and 4-2) and a 1-0 win in the Crown Prince Cup semi-finals. Al-Qadsiya’s only recent triumph was a 1-0 Super Cup victory.

Al-Qadsiya veteran Abdullah Al-Shamali cited his team’s “lack of motivation and ambition” as a key reason for their poor showing against Al-Arabi. He acknowledged that several injuries and fatigue from tight scheduling also affected the team’s performance.

“We didn’t approach the match with the required passion, and that impacted us badly,” Al-Shamali admitted. “Our priority now is to finish the season strongly, especially in the Amir’s Cup.”

He concluded with an apology to the fans: “We sincerely apologize to our loyal supporters. We promise to fight for positive results in every remaining match.”

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff