DOHA: Al Sadd, dethroned as Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions earlier this month, will be keen to redeem themselves in a trophyless season when they take on feisty El Jaish in the semi-final of Qatar Cup today.
AFC Champions League winners in 2011, Al Sadd will certainly not have it easy as El Jaish are a potent football force in the country. Al Sadd lost their QSL crown to Lekhwiya this season and will be looking to Qatar Cup as a chance to regain some pride.
Currently in last place in the AFC Champions League, the former winners look unlikely to progress any further so will now switch focus to the Qatar Cup.
With too many lapses in concentration and repeated mistakes, head coach Hussein Ammouta (pictured right) predicted early on that his side would not retain their title this season. However, things looked to be momentarily back on track with the addition of on-loan midfielder Rodrigo Tabata who scored many goals for his new side but the diminutive Brazilian couldn’t do it all on his own.
Al Sadd will face El Jaish in what should be a very intriguing game and with the former having plenty of motivation to get one over on their closest rival, expect a highly competitive and tough encounter this at the Suheim Bin Hamad stadium. The final QSL standings have the wolves in third place with 47 points. They won 13, drew 8 and lost 5 on their road to qualification for the Qatar Cup.
El Jaish have steered their way to second place in QSL with the guidance and smart tactics of coach Nabil Maaloul (pictured left). El Jaish finished QSL title race well with an important 1-0 win over Al Rayyan and a goalless draw against Al Khor which meant they finished with 48 points and crucially, ahead of Al Sadd. El Jaish will be slightly conflicted as they have also managed to do extremely well in the AFC Champions League. They currently sit second in Group B. Coach Maaloul, however, will be hoping they come out of the game with no injuries and plenty of smiles against Al Sadd. THE PENINSULA
