Kuwait Club moves closer to fifth straight crown as Al Qadsia fails to capitalize

Players battling for the ball.

KUWAIT CITY, June 14: Kuwait Club edged closer to a fifth consecutive Zain Premier League title and a record 21st championship after maintaining a 12-point lead over nearest rival Al Qadsia at the end of the 18th round of the second phase.

The leader was held to a 0-0 draw by Al Salmiya, while Al Qadsia also settled for a goalless stalemate against Al Arabi, leaving the title firmly in Kuwait Club’s hands as the season enters its decisive stage.

The Championship Stage kicks off tomorrow with Kuwait Club facing Al Fahaheel, Al Qadsia taking on Al Salmiya, and Al Arabi meeting Kazma. In the relegation battle, Al Shabab, Al Tadamon, Al Nasr, and Al Jahra will fight to avoid the drop.

Focus also shifts to continental qualification, where Al Qadsia, Al Arabi, Kazma, and Al Salmiya are competing for the three remaining spots. The second-placed team will enter the AFC Champions League 2 playoff, while third place secures a berth in the AFC Challenge League and fourth qualifies for the Gulf Club Champions League.

Kuwait Club now requires just four points from a possible 15 to officially seal the title, despite being reduced to ten men early on after Mohammed Daham’s red card in the 10th minute.

Al Qadsia also spent much of their match with a numerical disadvantage following Adhbi Shihab’s dismissal just before half-time, while Al Arabi failed to capitalize and were also held to a draw.

Kazma emerged as the standout performer of the round after a key win over Al Nasr, climbing to third place on 30 points and moving ahead of Al Arabi and Al Salmiya on head-to-head record, with Al Nasr dropping to ninth.

Elsewhere, Al Shabab ended an eight-match winless streak with a narrow 1-0 victory over Al Jahra, rising to seventh place, while Jahra remains bottom. Al Tadamon also claimed a 1-0 win over Al Fahaheel to move up to eighth.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff