Gulf Champions League semi-finals: Zakho vs. Al-Shabab and Al-Qadisiyah vs. Al-Rayyan
The group stage of the Gulf Champions League has concluded, revealing the semi-final lineup which promises heavyweight clashes between established Gulf clubs and their ambitions for the regional title. Iraqi side Zakho secured their place in the semi-finals as group winners, setting up a highly anticipated encounter with Saudi Arabia's Al-Shabab, a match that promises plenty of excitement and fierce competition.
Details of the decisive night and Zakho's brilliance
In a thrilling final group stage match, Iraqi side Zakho secured top spot in Group A with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Bahraini visitors Sitra. The game was full of twists and turns, with Asu Rustam opening the scoring for Zakho in the 29th minute, before international star Amjad Atwan doubled their lead in the 54th minute. Despite Sitra's efforts to equalize through Bruno Bezerra in the 60th minute, the drama reached its peak in stoppage time. Amjad Atwan sealed the win for Zakho with a penalty in the 90+9th minute, while Abdulwasea Al-Matari pulled one back for Sitra from the penalty spot in the 90+11th minute.
Kuwait's Al-Qadsia wins the Gulf derby
In the second match, Kuwait's Al-Qadsia secured the second qualifying spot from Group A after defeating the UAE's Al-Ain 1-0. The winning goal came in the 50th minute courtesy of veteran star Bader Al-Mutawa, reaffirming his immense talent and experience in high-stakes matches. The game, officiated by Saudi referee Mohammed Al-Smaeel, was marked by early tension, with Al-Ain's Ibrahima Ndiaye receiving a red card in the 12th minute. This setback made things difficult for the Emirati side and allowed the Kuwaiti team to dominate possession.
Roadmap to the title and the importance of the tournament
With these results, Zakho topped Group A with 13 points and will face Al-Shabab of Saudi Arabia (runners-up in Group B), while Al-Qadisiyah finished second and will clash with Al-Rayyan of Qatar (leaders of Group B). This edition of the Gulf Champions League is of particular importance, as it comes within the framework of the Gulf federations' efforts to raise the level of competition among their clubs and provide a strong platform for competition outside of Asian tournaments.
The match between Al-Shabab and Zakho is of a special nature, as the Saudi “Al-Laith” seeks to add a new external title to its gold-studded trophy cabinet, benefiting from its great experience and long history, while Zakho aspires to make history and confirm the development of Iraqi football at the club level, making the semi-final highly anticipated by sports fans in the region.
