Al Duhail bounce back with emphatic win over Shabab Al Ahli

International football

·

04/11/2025

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Al Duhail SC delivered their most convincing display of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 season, recording a 4-1 triumph over Shabab Al Ahli on Monday. The long-awaited victory marked the Qatari club’s first win of the campaign and eased pressure on head coach Djamel Belmadi after a sluggish start to the group stage.

Belmadi expressed his satisfaction with the result, highlighting the character and determination shown by his squad. “The players performed at an excellent level and displayed a great reaction,” he said. “This win means a lot for us after the challenging period we have gone through.”

The coach underlined the importance of maintaining the same standard in future matches, crediting his players for their unity and discipline. “We managed the tempo well and recovered possession faster, which gave us several advantages,” Belmadi added. “Consistency is our biggest test, and teamwork was the key to today’s success.”

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Sousa admits defensive lapses cost his team

It was an evening to forget for Shabab Al Ahli and their coach Paulo Sousa, whose side’s promising start to the tournament came to an abrupt halt in Doha. The defeat left the Emirati club searching for answers after a series of defensive mistakes proved costly.

Sousa acknowledged that his players struggled to cope once they fell behind early in the contest. “This game was a tough lesson for us,” he said. “We made too many errors and allowed our opponents to exploit spaces behind our defense. The early goal disrupted our rhythm, and we found it difficult to recover.”

Despite creating several chances after the interval, Shabab Al Ahli were unable to capitalize. “We had moments in the second half to change the outcome, but we didn’t take them,” Sousa lamented. “Now, we must move on quickly and prepare to respond in our next matches.”

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Next challenges for both sides

With this morale-boosting result, Al Duhail reignited their hopes of advancing from the group stage. They will next face domestic rivals Al Gharafa in what promises to be another key encounter.

Meanwhile, Shabab Al Ahli will aim to regroup when they meet Saudi side Al Ittihad Club on November 24. Sousa’s men will be eager to restore confidence and put their campaign back on track after this setback.

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