"I congratulate the players for their discipline and the level of performance they showed. Al Hussein scored with their first two chances due to individual mistakes in our defence,” said Sousa.

Trailing to early strikes from Yousef Abu Jalboush and Mahmoud Al Mardi, Sardar Azmoun pulled one back for Shabab Al Ahli just before the break. The turnaround was completed late in the match, with Renan equalising in the 87th minute and Dabbur scoring the winner in added on time. 

“In the second half, the tactical change we implemented focused on attacking from the flanks. We created many chances but couldn’t convert them, thanks to the brilliance of the Al Hussein goalkeeper. We struggled in the final third, where we could have scored more goals. The final pass or shot was often lacking. 

“The key is maintaining the team’s identity and ensuring the players stay in top condition. However, there are areas we must address to help the players reach their full potential.”

Al Hussein head coach Joao Mota was disappointed with the defeat but proud of his team’s competitive spirit.

“This is my first loss with Al Hussein Club, but it came against a big team. We knew Shabab Al Ahli are strong, with excellent players,” said Mota. “We matched their level in the first half and proved we can compete with any team. 

“However, we are dealing with significant defensive issues due to injuries, which forced me to make several changes in our backline. I tried to energise our attack by bringing on an additional striker to pressure the opposition, but Shabab Al Ahli’s substitutes made a big difference.”