Umm Salal and Al Sailiya players in action during their previous QNB Stars League encounter in this file photo.
DOHA: All eyes will be on Al Gharafa Stadium where Umm Salal take on Al Sailiya in a bid to make it to the top-four in the standings as round 18 of the QNB Stars League (QSL) kicks off today.
Al Sailiya are currently occupying the fourth spot with 25 points, having won seven out of 17 matches they have played so far, and lost six games. They also managed to draw games and are just one point ahead of Umm Salal, who are placed fifth.
Al Sailiya assistant coach Amin Fariha admitted that Umm Salal won’t be an easy opponent to take on.
“It’s a difficult game. We don’t have many games left in this season’s league competition. So we have to win this match. For that, we have to be on top of our game against Umm Salal,” Fariha said during a pre-match press conference held on the eve of the match. Every coach wants to win. Umm Salal are coming from a defeat, but they are able to make a strong comeback anytime. We know their strengths and weaknesses and we will try to win,” he said.
Umm Salal have won six and drawn same number of matches but suffered five losses along the way.
In their last game, Umm Salal suffered a big loss against a strong Al Sadd outfit led by Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez where they conceded five goals but failed to score any.
However, Al Sailiya did well to hold strong Al Rayyan 2-2 in their last game.
Umm Salal coach Talal El Karkouri stays positive ahead of today’s match despite the outcome of their previous game.
“Yes. We are coming off a big defeat at the hands of Al Duhail. We were not focusing fully on the ball. We were not concentrating fully on the game either. But then, Al Duhail are the strongest side around. They have players of great calibre. Especially their professional players.
“Against Al Sailiya, our target is victory as that will put us in a more comfortable position where we will be two points ahead of them in the standings.
Al Sailiya attack will be spearheaded by their top scorer Wagner Ribeiro (11 goals) while Temurkhuja Abdukholikov (seven), Nadir Belhadj, Valentin Lazar and midfielder Majdi Siddiq who makes it to the team following a one-match suspension will be looking to penetrate the Umm Salal defence. Striker Yannick Sagbo (eight goals) leads Umm Salal’s charge, supported by Adel Rhaili, Mahmoud Mawas, Rami Fayez, Ismail Ibrahim and others.
Al Gharafa are breathing down the duo’s neck with their bid to break into the top four, so both teams will hope to settle for nothing less than a victory.
The other match of the day it will be a different story with both teams fighting to stay alive in the QSL. Al Arabi and Al Kharaitiyat will open the proceedings today and both teams are in the bottom of the table and badly need points if they are to stay off the relegation threat.
Al Arabi are 11th with 12 points and Al Kharaitiyat one position above on 13 points, and both are coming off defeats. While Al Arabi lost 1-5 to Al Sadd, Al Kharaitiyat suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Al Gharafa.
The teams had played out a 1-1 draw in the first phase.
