Our first football team, Muaither Club, bid farewell to the Emir’s Cup after losing 1-0 to Al-Sailiya in the preliminary round, in a match held this evening at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Al-Duhail Club.
The match started strongly from both sides, with Al-Sailiya having the first threat with two dangerous chances, but both missed Majed Abdul Latif’s goal.
Our team responded to Al-Sailiya’s chances with a powerful shot from Talal Munir, but Al-Sailiya goalkeeper Nabil Wannas brilliantly saved it. Then, a powerful shot from Yousef Al-Yahri was deflected with difficulty for a corner kick.
The match continued to escalate as the minutes passed, with both goals being attacked. Our team managed to threaten Al-Sailiya’s goal with a powerful shot from Aura, which the Al-Sailiya goalkeeper saved and sent to a corner kick.
Our team intensified its offensive efforts and continued pressure on Al-Sailiya’s goal, searching for a loophole. However, Al-Sailiya’s defense formed a solid barrier against all attempts, and the score remained unchanged at a scoreless draw. The first half ended in a scoreless draw between the two teams.
The second half began at the same pace as the first, with both teams demonstrating a genuine desire to score the first goal. However, nothing new emerged until the 50th minute.
The match witnessed a fierce battle between the players in midfield, attempting to control the flow of play, dictate the rhythm, and build and shape attacks. This made it difficult for either goalkeeper to reach the net.
The minutes of the match continued amidst a complete closure of spaces on the field. Despite some attempts on both sides, they lacked any real threat to the goalkeepers’ goals.
Our team’s offensive efforts focused on the movements of Anicet Aura, Talal Munir, and Abdulaziz Adel up front, supported at the back by Youssef Al-Yahri and Saad Al-Sawan. However, these attempts fell short of the required level and posed no real threat to Al-Sailiya’s goal.
In the 81st minute, our team had a dangerous opportunity after a powerful shot from Amjad Salah from inside the penalty area, but it hit the Al-Sailiya defense, wasting the chance to take the lead.
In the 90+4 minute, our team had a dangerous opportunity after a powerful low shot from Saad Al-Sawan, but the Al-Sailiya goalkeeper made a brilliant save. The match ended in a goalless draw, sending the match into extra time.
The first extra time began with clear pressure from our team, attempting to snatch a goal and impose the advantage from the start. However, the Al-Sailiya defense remained cohesive, and these attempts failed to translate into goals.
Our team made its first substitution in the 98th minute, bringing on Nassim Ben Aissa for Youssef Sabri Al-Yahri, to bolster our midfield and increase our offensive effectiveness.
The first half of extra time ended in a goalless draw, and we headed into the second half of extra time.
The second half of extra time began with our team making a substitution, bringing on Oliver White for Abdulaziz Adel, and bringing on Abdul Rahim Al-Balushi for Talal Munir. This was an attempt by the coach to revitalize the attacking midfield and strengthen our offensive options in the remaining minutes.
As the minutes passed, the match became completely closed off, with both teams’ offensive attempts futile and timid, amidst a clear lack of consistency in their performance. It appeared we were approaching a penalty shootout to decide who would advance to the round of 16.
Al-Sailiya managed to score a killer goal in the last minute of extra time in the second half through Abdullah Mathnani with a shot from inside the box, so the score became a goal for Al-Sailiya and nothing for our team, and as a result the match ended with Al-Sailiya winning by a clean goal and qualifying for the round of sixteen of His Highness the Amir Cup.
