With a QNB Stars League spot on the line, Al Khor and Al Markhiya will battle it out in a play-off match at the Al Janoub Stadium today. Al Khor finished 11th in the top division, while Markhiya came runner-up in the second division.
The match regulations stipulate that in the event of a tie, extra time of 30 minutes (15 minutes in each half) will be played. If that also ends in a draw, penalty shoot-out will decide the winners.
Al Khor, will undoubtedly start as the favourites having fought hard to stay up in the QNB Stars League. But in a play-off one brilliant performance can make or break the season, which makes Markhiya a definite threat.
Khor won just three matches and suffered 11 defeats in their campaign, which also meant coach Omar Najhi was sacked with three rounds remaining. Now with Andre Lima at the helm, Al Khor will hope they can save their season and stay in the top tier.
Brazilian Lima urged his players to be wary of Markhiya and look to dominate their opponents. “It is going to be a decisive match. We are not afraid of facing any team, but we have to dominate Al Markhiya, a team that reached the semi-finals of Amir Cup, beating Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa on the way,” he said.
“They are able to spring surprises, so we must avoid all mistakes that can cost us goals. We must impose our style on the field by believing in our abilities and respecting Markhiya from the first minute until the end of the game. We cannot relax and we must not lose our focus from the first minute till end. The conditions and atmosphere in the team are good despite our situation in this season. We lost points in many games, which we did not deserve to lose,” Lima added.
Markhiya coach Younis Ali said their experience of reaching Amir Cup semi-finals should play a key role in this important match. “We want to win against Al Khor in order to play in the QNB Stars League next season. That is our ambition, especially because our players provided a very good level during the season against odds. We are keen to be in the QNB Stars League,” he said.
“We now have the experience to play important matches. The team gained it also from games in the Amir Cup, where we have reached the semi-finals. The players are at the highest level of readiness and, thank God, we have not suffered any injuries. Talal Ali has put his injury behind him. We will not talk about my situation with the team now. We are all focused on the play-off game. The atmosphere in the club is very healthy. The club management provides all that is needed to achieve our target and we hope to repay them by winning this decisive match,” he added.
from Gulf Times https://ift.tt/3b2I4Pg
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