Blues face must-win encounter against Thailand at Asian Games

HANGZHOU, China, Sept 23: Kuwait Olympic team stand resolutely in pursuit of victory as they face Thailand in the final round of Group 5 matches at the 2023 Asian Games hosted in Hangzhou, China. Simultaneously, South Korea will clash with Bahrain in another pivotal match. South Korea leads the group with 6 points, while Bahrain holds the second position with 2 points. Both Thailand and the “Blue” Team have accumulated a single point each. For the “Blue” Team, there is no alternative but to secure a win today to keep their hopes of qualification alive.

This hinges on Bahrain suffering defeat at the hands of South Korea, which would position the “Blue” Team in second place behind Korea. In the event that both the “Blue” Team and Bahrain emerge victorious, they must patiently await the outcomes of other matches to determine the fate of the best third-placed team. Should the Blues secure a win while Bahrain settles for a draw, both teams will advance with 4 points apiece. In such a scenario, Bahrain would enter calculations as the best third-placed team with 2 points, leading to Thailand’s exit from the tournament. In the case of a draw and Bahrain’s loss to South Korea, all three teams – Kuwait, Bahrain, and Thailand – would each possess 2 points. Goal difference across all matches and adherence to fair play principles would come into play, potentially resulting in the “Blue” Team’s elimination from the competition.

Tournament regulations stipulate that the top two teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best third-placed teams, proceed to the second round. The results of the team finishing last in determining the best third-placed teams in four groups will be disregarded. Kuwait, under the guidance of their Portuguese coach, Emilio Pexi, fully comprehends that their qualification hinges on the level of performance they deliver. They recognize that achieving this goal is solely within their control, emphasizing the importance of not relying on the outcomes of other matches, particularly considering South Korea’s strong likelihood of defeating Bahrain, given their formidable performance in the initial two rounds.

The Blues showcased a markedly improved performance against Bahrain, surmounting the lingering impact of the “heavy” defeat they suffered against Korea in the first round. They exhibited a compelling display against the Bahraini national team, affirming their self-assuredness and their preparedness to offer more in this championship. The Olympic team will be without their leading scorer, Salman Al-Awadi, due to accumulated yellow cards, as well as Abdulaziz Naji, sidelined due to injury. Nonetheless, the coaching staff has other standout players capable of clinching victory. Prominent among them are Bandar Al-Salama, Badr Al-Mutairi, Talal Al-Qaisi, Faisal Al-Shatti, Hamad Al-Tuwail, Mohsen Fallah, Fahad Al-Fadhli, Fahad Al-Azmi, Abdulrahman Al-Dehani, Yousef Al-Haqan, Mohammad Al-Rashid, and Sultan Al-Faraj.