A group photo of officials from Group B teams along with teams’ jerseys.
DOHA: Defending champions Al Gharafa was drawn against giants Al Duhail in Group A while Al Sadd and Al Rayyan were placed in Group B in a draw ceremony for the coveted QSL Cup which was held in Doha, yesterday.
Qatar Stars League Management’s (QSLM) Competitions and Football Development Department Acting Executive Director Mohammad Ahmad Abdulla, Competitions Department Director Ahmed Al Adsani and representatives of all 12 competing clubs attended the draw ceremony which was held at Al Bidda Tower.
This year’s QSL Cup, which will start on September 7, will see a change in format as the six-team group stage will be followed by quarter-finals instead of four teams directly qualifying for the semi-finals like the last season.
Al Gharafa won the 2017 QSL Cup after edging out Al Rayyan 3-2 in the final at Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium, following heroics from goalkeeper Qassim Burhan, who famously stopped a second-half penalty kick by feared striker Rodrigo Tabata to ensure second title for ‘The Cheetahs’.
Apart from Al Gharafa and last season’s treble winners Al Duhail, Group A comprises Umm Salal, Al Arabi, Qatar SC and Al Kharaitiyat, making it a tough pool. The Group B includes pre-event favourites Al Sadd and Al Rayyan besides Al Sailiya, Al Khor, Al Ahli and Al Shahania.
The clubs were ranked according to their order in last season’s QNB Stars League (QSL) standings, with promoted Al Shahania replacing relegated Al Markhiya as the last team.
The complete schedule of QSL Cup is expected to be finalised soon after co-ordination with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the organisers said. The final of the tournament will be played on February 2, 2019.
The matches will be played during international breaks.
Meanwhile, the draw ceremony was followed by a technical meeting, presided over by Al Adsani and attended by Qatar Football Association’s Referees’ Committee representative Abdullah Al Balooshi as well as clubs’ representatives.
Matters related to the tournament as well as rules and regulations were discussed.
A fourth substitute will be allowed during extra time and only red-card suspension will be carried forward to the following season’s QSL Cup.
The meeting stressed the need for players to co-operate fully with the referees and abide by their decisions.
The teams’ jersey colours were also decided during the meeting.
