KUWAIT CITY, Oct 23: In a recent match, Al-Arabi faced a significant setback against the Bahraini club Al-Riffa, with a final score of 3-0. The match took place at Jaber International Stadium as part of the third round of the AFC Cup's third group stage. This result elevated Al-Riffa to the top of the group standings with 7 points, while Al-Arabi's tally remained frozen at 4 points.

The game took an unfortunate turn for Al-Arabi when defender Jumaa Abboud received a red card in the 53rd minute, leaving them with a numerical disadvantage. In another match within the same group, the Iraqi team Al-Zawraa secured a 4-1 victory against Lebanese side Al-Najma, thus reaching 4 points and taking second place based on goal difference. This pushed Al-Arabi down to the third position, while Al-Najma held onto their previous score of one point.

Delving into the details of the Al-Arabi versus Al-Riffa clash, the first half ended in a goalless draw. During this period, Al-Arabi failed to perform up to expectations, while Al-Riffa demonstrated superior technical and physical prowess, posing a greater threat. Kamil Al-Aswad, the standout player of the match, came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half (23rd minute) when he almost found the net with a powerful shot. Brazilian player Vinicius Vargas also attempted a similar shot, but it was saved by goalkeeper Ahmed Dashti.

The second half witnessed a goal-scoring spectacle. Kamil Al-Aswad opened the scoring with a beautifully executed free-kick (55th minute). Hashim Al-Sayyid Issa then added the second goal (62nd minute) after outmaneuvering Al-Arabi's defense. Brazilian player Joel Vinicius sealed the victory with a goal (69th minute) that eluded goalkeeper Dashti.

Ultimately, it was a tough defeat for Al-Arabi in a match that didn't go their way.