Players challenge for the ball during the Zain Premier League game between Kuwait Club and Al-Salmiya.

DUBAI, Oct 20: Kuwait Club is set to hold its first training session this evening in the UAE in preparation for its upcoming AFC Champions League 2 match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai. Kuwait Club enters the match with high morale, having secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over Al-Salmiya just two days ago in the seventh round of the Zain Premier League at Thamer Stadium. This win has solidified Kuwait Club’s position at the top of the standings with 21 points and a perfect record, while Al-Salmiya remains in fourth place with 11 points.

Al-Salmiya took an early lead with a goal from Tunisian player Imad Lawati, who finished a pass from Abdul Mohsen Al-Turkmani into the net of goalkeeper Saud Al-Hawshan (11’). However, Kuwait Club quickly responded with two goals from Amr Abdel Fattah (17’) and Yahya Jabran (25’ via penalty). Al-Salmiya equalized with a penalty by Alex Lima (35’), and just before halftime, Kuwait Club’s Lamine Abu Al-Fath was shown a red card for a foul on Al-Salmiya striker Moaz Al-Aseema.

Despite being a man down, Kuwait Club dominated the second half. Mohammed Marhoon scored Kuwait's third goal (62’), but Al-Salmiya equalized again through Muhannad Al-Muhameed (67’). The decisive moment came in the 90th minute when substitute Yousef Nasser scored the winning goal for Kuwait Club.

Kuwait Club now aims to carry its domestic momentum into the AFC Champions League, where it currently sits in fourth place in Group 4 with one point from two matches. It trails Nasaf Qarshi of Uzbekistan by three points, while Al-Hussein Irbid of Jordan and Shabab Al-Ahli are two points ahead.

Meanwhile, the Al-Qadsiya delegation departs for Doha today in preparation for its match against Al-Arabi of Qatar, scheduled for Wednesday in the first round of Group 2 in the Gulf Champions League, which returns after a nine-year hiatus.

Al-Qadisiya will face Al-Arabi at the Al-Thumama World Cup Stadium. The group also includes Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq and Bahrain's Al-Riffa, who will meet on the same day at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium.

After their 2-1 victory over Al-Nasr two days ago in the Zain Premier League at Thamer Stadium, Al-Qadsiya's technical staff granted the players a day off. Ismail Khafi (9’) and Mohammed Soula (89’) scored for Al-Qaisiya, while Rashid Al-Mutairi (90+4’) netted for Al-Nasr. With the win, Al-Qadsiya moved to fifth place with 10 points, while Al-Nasr remains on 4 points.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff