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Al Dhafra slip to second position to face Dubai-based Al Ahli

 

Al Dhafra Football Team were forced to slip to second place  in Group "B" of the GCC Clubs Championship with 7 points after their contenders Al Arabi of Qatar humiliated Saham of Sultanate of Oman with a 5-1 victory in their last group stage game played yesterday May 9 in Doha. Both Al Arabi and Al Dhafra proceeded forward to the next phase. Saham have finished their unsuccessful participation staying at the bottom of the group with only two points to remain out of contention.

Al Arabi raised their tally to nine points that helped them to top the ladder and have the advantage of playing their quarterfinal match at home according to the championship regulations. They will take on their counterparts Al Arabi of Kuwait who were classified in the second spot of Group "D" with no points, while Al Dhafra are to battle it out against their country team Al Ahli at Rashid Stadium. Al Ahli have qualified earlier with 6 points beating Al Arabi of Kuwait in their home and away matches in a two-horse race of Group "D" after Al Ahli of Bahrain, the third team in the group, withdrew for undetermined reasons before their second round match kicks off in which they were supposed to meet Al Ahli in Dubai. The quarterfinal matches will be played on May 24 and 25 at the pitches of the leaders of the four groups on a knock-out  basis where either UAE Al Shabab or Al Riffah of Bahrain who will play today in Manama to determine the leaders of Group "C" will meet second-placed Dhafar of Sultanate of Oman. The team, who will emerge losers in today's game between Al Shabab and Al Riffah, will take on Kazma of Kuwait, leaders of Group "C".