Tonight, Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar Club will host the final match of the QSL Cup for the 2024-2025 season, which will bring together the Al Arabi and Al Duhail teams at five-thirty in the evening. The match is expected to witness great excitement and a strong challenge between the two teams, given the distinguished levels that both of them have presented over the course of the year. During the tournament, both coaches are expected to field a powerful force in the starting lineup in search of winning the title.
Al Duhail qualified for the final after a difficult victory over Al Wakrah with a score of 3-1 in the semi-finals in a match that extended to extra time after the end of regular time with them tied 1-1, while Al Arabi qualified for the final by defeating Umm Salal with a score of 2-1.
Al-Duhail had finished the group stage at the top of the first group with 10 points on goal difference over Al-Arabi (second in the group), before Al-Duhail continued its journey by winning the quarter-finals over Al-Khor 2-1, while Al-Arabi won the quarter-finals over Al-Shamal with a score of 3-0.
The two teams met in the group stage of the fourth round at Al Khor Stadium, and Al Arabi won with a clean goal scored by its player Rodriguez Sanchez. Therefore, the match may be an opportunity for Al Duhail to make amends and win the first title of the season, which is the same goal as Al Arabi, which will work hard to continue the journey.
Al-Arabi also wants to compensate for its loss of the title in the last edition to Umm Salal, after it lost the final match on penalties from the penalty spot.
The ranks of both teams include high-level and senior players in all lines and positions, and it is certain that each coach will work hard to prepare his players in a distinctive manner and bring in the best available players in order to achieve what is required.
Galtier, coach of Al-Toufan: I hope that our efforts will be crowned with success
French coach Christopher Galtier, coach of Al Duhail, stressed that the final match against Al Arabi represents great importance for the team, and everyone is looking forward to winning the championship.
He said: The team is missing the efforts of more than 12 players due to international commitments. We made a great effort in the last match after it extended into extra time, but we focused on the physical effort to prepare the players for the final and we hope to achieve our first championship this season.
He explained that the team has 6 to 7 young players who will be on the roster, to rely on and strengthen the team’s ranks, and I hope that we will perform at the desired level and crown the great efforts.
Regarding the level of the Al-Arabi team, he stressed that the competitor, despite having players at the highest level, did not provide the level expected and appeared in the way it was last season at the beginning of this season, but it is capable of improving in the second part of the league and providing a good performance.
Rodriguez, dream coach: We always play for titles
Al-Arabi coach Spanish Rodriguez confirmed his team’s readiness to face Al-Duhail. He said: We prepared well for the match despite the limited time, stressing that he studied the opposing team and analyzed their playing style, and now the ball is in the players’ court in order to give their best in this match. He added: I have a lot of confidence in all the players. Al-Arabi is an ancient team with a great history, and always plays for titles and a place on the podium. Despite the fluctuation of results, this happens in football, and there is nothing to worry about, as the team is able to rise from its downfall, and the good thing is The morale of the players is in an optimistic state in this match. Regarding the absences, he stressed that the team includes 22 players, and whatever the absences, the important thing is to focus with the existing group, and we hope that we will perform well and achieve victory during this match.
Ahmed Abdel Maqsoud: The chances are equal
Ahmed Abdel Maqsoud, Al Duhail player, said that the final matches are not subject to the preference of one team over the other, and therefore the chances are equal, as both teams have international players at the highest level and therefore we must give our best, and God willing, the result will be in our favor and we will achieve victory.
He continued: Since the beginning of the tournament, we have been dealing with all seriousness and focus with the aim of achieving what is required in every match we play, and I hope that our efforts will be crowned with success and we will win the championship cup for this season.
Hilal Muhammad: We will fight to achieve the championship
Hilal Mohammed, Al-Arabi player, said that the team’s participation in the final for the second time in a row is a good thing, but all the players are looking forward to winning and claiming the title after losing last year.
Regarding his opinion of the Al-Duhail team, he said: We faced Al-Duhail in the group stage and we achieved victory over them, and the cup matches differ according to the league and whatever the advantage is on paper, but this does not mean that one team is superior to the other, as the chances are equal at 50% for each team.
He concluded his speech by saying that the psychological aspect plays an important role during the match, and the Al Arabi team has the required motivation in order to provide the best, and the team is at the peak of readiness throughout the past training and we must fight for our chances.