At 11:30 PM on August 13th, the Asian Elite Tournament play-off will see a clash between Al Gharafa and Dubai Youth National, with the former hosting the match.
Al Gharafa hails from the Qatari League, where they are a force to be reckoned with. In the last season, they secured a 13-5-4 record, accumulating 44 points to finish third in the league, earning a spot in the Asian Elite Tournament play-offs. They scored a remarkable 53 goals in 22 matches, showcasing their offensive prowess. However, conceding 36 goals hindered their championship aspirations.
In preparation for the tournament, they participated in four friendlies and three Qatar Emir Cup matches, achieving a 1-3-4 record, a performance that wasn’t particularly impressive. Notably, their elimination in the Emir Cup semi-finals via penalties against Qatar SC dealt a blow to their morale. In their league opener against newly promoted Al Khor, they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw, leaving them with growing frustrations.
Dubai Youth National, representing the UAE Pro League, achieved a 18-4-4 record in the last season, securing 58 points and finishing as runners-up, earning a place in the Asian Elite Tournament starting from the qualifiers. They were exceptionally strong in their domestic league, scoring 73 goals in 26 matches, demonstrating their potent attack. Defensively, they conceded 34 goals, a decent performance, making them a formidable force in their domestic league. However, it remains to be seen if they can maintain their firepower on the bigger stage of the Asian Elite Tournament.
They have played five warm-up matches, securing a 3-2 record. Notably, they recorded a surprising 9-0 victory against the Udinese youth team. It’s worth mentioning that in the subsequent Asian Elite Tournament qualifier, Dubai Youth National faced Sepahan, a team competing in the Asian Champions League group stage. They showed remarkable resilience and eventually managed to eliminate their opponent, boosting their morale significantly.
These two teams have only met twice before, during the 2022 Asian Champions League. Their first encounter ended in a 1-1 draw, but in the second leg, Dubai Youth National dominated with an 8-2 scoreline, easily eliminating their opponents. This outcome has created a sense of “rivalry” between the two teams. Their upcoming encounter promises to be a fiery affair, with Al Gharafa seeking to redeem themselves and avenge their previous defeat.
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