Kuwait Club closes in on fifth straight Zain Premier League title

Kuwait Club players celebrate after scoring against Kazma during the Zain Premier League match.

KUWAIT CITY, May 31: Defending champion Kuwait Club moved another step closer to retaining the Zain Premier League title after defeating Kazma 2-0 in Round 17 at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium.

The victory restored Kuwait Club's 12-point advantage over nearest rival Qadsia and brought the White Brigade within touching distance of a fifth consecutive league crown and the 21st championship in club history. Having dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Al-Nasr in the previous round, Kuwait Club quickly returned to winning ways and now requires just seven points from its remaining six matches to secure the title mathematically.

Qadsia climbed back into second place with 31 points, overtaking Al-Salmiya and keeping alive its hopes of ending a decade-long wait for the league trophy. However, with a significant gap separating it from the leaders, its title aspirations remain slim.

Al-Arabi enjoyed one of its most important victories of the season, defeating Al-Nasr 2-1 to end a frustrating six-match winless run that included three defeats and three draws. The result lifted the Green Team to third place on 29 points and revived its momentum heading into the final stretch of the campaign.

Al-Salmiya matched Al-Arabi's tally after securing a 2-0 win over Al-Fahaheel. The victory strengthened Al-Salmiya's chances of finishing among the top four and earning qualification for regional competition next season.

Despite the defeat, Al-Fahaheel guaranteed its place in the Championship Group and avoided involvement in the relegation battle.

Kazma endured another disappointing round, suffering a second consecutive loss and dropping to fifth place with 27 points after occupying second position only two rounds earlier.

The line-up for the relegation phase has now been finalized, with Al-Nasr, Al-Tadamon, Al-Shabab, and Al-Jahra set to fight for survival. Two of the four clubs will retain their Premier League status, while the other two will be relegated to the First Division.

Al-Tadamon emerged as the biggest winner among the quartet after recording a valuable 2-0 victory over Al-Shabab, moving into eighth place with 15 points. The defeat saw Al-Shabab slip to ninth after previously occupying seventh position.

Although Al-Nasr fell to Al-Arabi, the team maintained seventh place and continued to produce encouraging performances.

Bottom-placed Al-Jahra faces the toughest challenge. With only eight points, the club's hopes of survival are fading rapidly, and its upcoming clash against Al-Shabab on June 11 may represent its final opportunity to keep its Premier League dream alive.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff