Third time lucky for Al-Qadsia as Kuwait’s AFC Cup dominance continues

Kuwaiti champions Al-Qadsia clinched the AFC Cup crown for the first time in three final appearances after a tight goalless contest against Iraq’s Erbil was settled on penalties. Qadsia’s talismanic Swiss striker Danjiel Subotic converted the winning penalty, confirming Kuwait’s soul dominance of the trophy over the past three seasons and Qadsia’s place in next year’s ACL.

 

Qadsia’s conquest was a well-deserved one as they thoroughly impressed throughout the tournament, peaking in the knockout stages where they scored plenty against decent opposition. Their attacking talent has been there to see for many years, after making the final on two previous occasions, but this time they weren’t to be disappointed in their crowning moment. Skippered by the ever improving central midfield talent of Saleh Al-Sheikh, the attack was further bolstered by striker Bader Al-Mutawa and eventual MVP winner Saif Al-Hashan, finishing with 5 goals apiece over the tournament.

 

However, it was the arrival of Subotic that ensured Qadisa’s progression after his mid-year switch from Europe. Not necessarily the most talented amongst Qadsia’s attacking setup but crucial in spearheading their assault on the title, after losing Syrian striker Omar Al-Somah to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli after the Round of 32. Their former striker contributed 7 goals in 7 matches before exiting to continue his fine form in the SPL, further underlying how well Subotic has performed since being brought in to continue Qadsia’s impressive form in front of goal.

 

Qadsia’s route to the final in the latter stages of the tournament was emphatic with plenty of goals scored at both ends of the pitch. A 3-3 draw on aggregate with Al-Hidd, saw them safely through the quarters on away goals, despite looking destined for an exit; going 3-1 down away in Bahrain before mounting a revival. The semi-final was even more of a spectacle, after again coming from behind to lead the tie 4-2 against Indonesian side Perispura Jayapura, the Kuwaitis went on to smash them 6-0 away in the second leg to send out a dominant message to the rest of the competition.

 

The tie wasn’t just littered with an abundance of goals, but also with a high amount of quality goals. Saif Al-Hashan’s goal in the first leg was reminiscent of Dennis Bergkamp’s wonder goal against Newcastle United, bamboozling the defender with a creative flick before neatly placing it past the Perispura keeper. In the second leg, Al-Hashan was at it again this time with a perfectly met volley, before Al-Sheikh, with a clever lob and Al-Mutawa with a drilled shot tore through the Indonesian defence.

 

The final itself was a much tighter affair than what had come before, but Qadsia remained in control of possession throughout. Half chances for many of their attacking talents were limited, with their Iraqi “hosts” Erbil creating their very own isolated chances on the counter. The tie was destined for penalties, and that’s the way it proceeded. Qadsia keeper Nawaf Al-Khaldi, who had been pretty shaky for much of the tournament, upped his game at the right point saving Erbil’s final penalty before Subotic clinched the title for the Kuwaitis.

 

Qadsia’s dominant display throughout the tournament was in stark contrast to Erbil who edged it through on a couple of occasions on route to the final, relying on defensive solidity to progress through to their 2nd final in three years. They were handicapped with playing their home games at neutral venues, notably the “home” final in Dubai which had to be played away from Iraq due to the continued unrest in the region. This in the end didn’t affect their eventual results on their run to the final, as Erbil only lost 1 match throughout the whole tournament, but notably didn’t give them the advantage in the final.

 

Some key names in the form of striker Amjad Radhi who proved a decent finisher and Jalal Hassan Hachim in net impressed during the tournament but the real star was Ali Faez Atiyah in defence. The 20 year old Iraqi is already cementing himself in both club and country’s starting line-up and offers a decent attacking threat from direct set-plays, a key player to monitor in the upcoming Asian Cup.

 

Both finalists are now granted, if eligible for a qualifying birth for the Asian Champions League, something Qadsia have already tasted last year after reaching the AFC Cup final in 2013. Iraqi clubs’ struggles to meet the AFC requirements could see Erbil miss out, but further analysis of their situation is promised by the AFC before the end of the year. This continues to be a thorny issue within the federation, as some clubs are eligible for some continental competitions but not for others.

 

Another talking point is the continued success of West over East. Ever since the ACL split to ease travel over the continent, the West has seen to have had the rougher end of the deal with much more of their representatives going deeper into the ACL and AFC Cup competitions on a regular basis despite the even number of slots given to each area. Kuwait’s third AFC Cup title in a row promotes many to ask why they aren’t granted immediate qualification spots in Asia’s premier competition, but the truth remains that the Kuwaiti Premier League is still a clear distance behind the top five leagues in West Asia.

 

The East’s contribution in this year’s AFC Cup was far from weak however, with Kitchee of Hong Kong and the aforementioned Perispura flying the flag for the region. Both scored plenty, especially in the knockout stages but struggled in defence against explosive opposition. Kitchee’s Spanish striker Juan Belencoso headed the golden boot list with 11 goals, while Perispura recorded 9-2 and 6-0 victories on their way to the semi-finals. The latter ended reigning champions Al-Kuwait’s chances of making it two from two, a score line which was emphatically reversed by Qadsia in the semis.

 

"A club like Al Qadsia should be playing in the AFC Champions League, not in the AFC Cup.” With an inventive attack and scope to improve on the continental stage, Qadsia striker Al Hashan’s words directly after the final may ring true to many. Early 2015 will offer the answer to see whether Kuwait’s impressive displays over the past few years in the AFC Cup merit a permanent seat at Asia’s top table.