A Kuwait Club player controls the ball as Al Arabi defenders close in.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: Kuwait Club’s assistant coach Karim Al-Shadhli expressed satisfaction with his players’ performance following an intense 1-1 draw against Al Arabi. The match was made even more challenging after team captain Sam Morsi was sent off in the first half, leaving the team to play most of the game with ten men.

Al-Shadhli praised the team’s effort and commitment, noting that performance data reflected the distances covered by each player and the high energy displayed throughout the match.

He added, “While focus is usually on technical aspects, when you have players giving 200% effort, that is the true meaning of teamwork. Despite being a man down, we pressed forward in the final ten minutes and came very close to scoring the winning goal.”

Al-Shadhli concluded that, although the team dropped two points, it gained invaluable character and resilience—hallmarks of a champion in critical moments.

Meanwhile, the third round of the Zain Premier League concludes today with two key matches. Tadamon will face Salmiya at 6:10 PM in Farwaniya, followed by Al-Shabab taking on Al-Nasr at 8:20 PM in Ahmadi.

Salmiya enters today’s match aiming to build on its recent revival. After opening the season with a 0-1 loss to Qadsia, the “Sky Blues” bounced back with a 2-0 victory over Al-Nasr under new coach Mohammed Dhelilis, who replaced Nasser Al-Shatti following a player registration controversy. Salmiya hopes to maintain its momentum and climb the league standings despite early-season challenges.

Tadamon, meanwhile, looks to consolidate its improvement. After a 1-3 loss to Kuwait Club and a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Qadsia last round, the team sees today’s encounter with a traditional rival as an opportunity to claim its first win of the season.

The upcoming clash sees Al-Shabab take on Al-Nasr in a crucial battle to climb out of the league’s lower ranks. Al-Shabab, with just one point from a draw against Qadsia, will be without Brazilian defender Lucas Santos, who was sent off in their previous game. Al-Nasr, sitting at the bottom with zero points after consecutive losses (0-4 to Qadsia and 0-2 to Salmiya), faces growing pressure. Coach Jameel Belkacem views today’s match as an opportunity for a fresh start, especially against an evenly matched opponent.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff