Al Sadd Focus on Domestic Titles After Champions League Exit

Al Sadd SC is shifting focus to winning two local trophies after being knocked out of the AFC Champions League Elite. The Qatari football club lost 3-2 in extra time to Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the quarter-finals on Monday night in Riyadh.

The match was tense and close. Al Sadd fought hard to equalize twice but could not stop a late goal in the 98th minute. This goal ended their run in the competition. They were the last Qatari team still in the tournament.

Aiming for Domestic Glory

Head coach Felix Sanchez said the team will now aim to win both the Amir Cup and Qatar Cup.

“We still have two trophies left to compete for this season, and we aim to win them,” Sanchez said after the loss.

Al Sadd will play their next match on May 6 in the Amir Cup. They will face Al Kharaitiyat, a second-division team, in the round of 16. Four days later, on May 10, they will face arch-rivals Al Duhail in the Qatar Cup final.

Painful Loss Against Kawasaki Frontale

The game in Riyadh started badly for Al Sadd. They conceded a goal just four minutes in. But Brazilian player Paulo Otavio equalized five minutes later. Kawasaki took the lead again in the 21st minute through a goal by Marcinho.

Al Sadd’s new signing Claudinho scored in the 71st minute to bring the score to 2-2. The team pushed hard and controlled the game for long periods.

But in the eighth minute of extra time, Yasuto Wakizaka scored the winner for Kawasaki. He took advantage of a weak pass by Al Sadd midfielder Guilherme.

Coach Sanchez said the team made small mistakes that changed the result. “We didn’t start the way we wanted and didn’t feel comfortable,” he said. “We conceded goals that could have been avoided.”

He also defended his players. “This is football — mistakes happen,” he added. “I’m proud of the squad. Their desire to win is clear.”

Domestic League Champions Once Again

Al Sadd already had one success this season. They recently won the Ooredoo Stars League for a record 18th time. They will now try to win the other two local trophies to complete a domestic treble.

Coach Sanchez said the team must now focus, recover, and prepare for the remaining challenges.

Problems Behind the Scenes

Al Sadd’s journey in the AFC Champions League Elite was not easy. All Qatari clubs in the tournament faced problems with player registration. Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa, the other two Qatari teams, struggled to perform.

Qatari teams, including ACL Two-bound Al Wakrah, were allowed to register more than seven foreign players after the season started. This rule change led to delays and confusion.

Some new players joined late and could not play in the Qatar Stars League right away. Two star players for Al Sadd — Romain Saiss of Morocco and Youcef Atal of Algeria — were not registered in the domestic league for much of the season.

This caused rhythm problems, according to Sanchez. “It’s tough physically to compete at this level when you have a break in rhythm,” he said in February. “We need to manage the situation well.”

Players Showed Professionalism

Despite the difficulties, Sanchez praised his squad for staying focused and professional. “I cannot blame the players,” he said again after the loss to Kawasaki. “They have a strong mentality, and I have no reproach.”

The coach hopes this spirit will help them win the Amir Cup and Qatar Cup in the coming weeks.

Next Matches for Al Sadd

Here’s what comes next for the team:

• Amir Cup Round of 16: Al Sadd vs. Al Kharaitiyat – May 6
• Qatar Cup Final: Al Sadd vs. Al Duhail – May 10

If Al Sadd wins both, it will be a strong end to a season full of highs and lows.

What’s Next for the ACL Elite?

With Al Sadd out, the AFC Champions League Elite will continue with three teams from Saudi Arabia in the semifinals.

• Kawasaki Frontale will face Al Nassr in the next round.
• The other semifinal will see an all-Saudi clash between Al Hilal and Al Ahli.