Portuguese coach Pedro Martins, manager of Qatari club Al-Gharafa, expressed his deep regret and sadness following the harsh and historic 7-0 defeat his team suffered against their host, Saudi club Al-Ittihad, in the match that took place on Tuesday evening, as part of the seventh round of the league stage of the AFC Champions League Elite Championship.

Acknowledgment of responsibility and apology to the fans

In the post-match press conference, Martinez appeared deeply affected by the result, emphasizing that the events were clear to everyone and needed little explanation. The Portuguese coach stated plainly: "I don't have much to say. Things were perfectly clear on the pitch. Al-Ittihad were the better team, superior in every aspect, and deservedly won.".

The Al-Gharafa coach did not stop at a brief technical analysis, but was keen to offer an official apology, saying: "I apologize to all members of Qatari sports and to the fans of Al-Gharafa Club for this heavy result. We take responsibility and feel sorry for what happened today.".

The two teams' standings in the AFC Champions League

This loss puts Al Gharafa in a precarious position in their qualification hopes for the next round, as their points tally remains at six, dropping them to tenth place in the West Zone standings. The team now needs to reassess their strategy and get back on track in the remaining matches to maintain their chances of securing a place among the top eight teams that will advance to the Round of 16.

In contrast, Al-Ittihad Club continued its strong performances, raising its tally to (12) points with this resounding victory, jumping to fifth place, enhancing its chances of comfortable qualification and competing for the top spot in the group.

The importance of the event and its regional impact

This result is one of the biggest in the history of head-to-head matches between Qatari and Saudi clubs in Asian competitions, reflecting the significant technical differences that emerged in this particular match. The AFC Champions League, in its new format, holds immense importance, featuring the continent's elite clubs, making every point and every goal crucial in the complex qualification scenarios.

This defeat is expected to cast a shadow over Al Gharafa's preparations for upcoming matches both locally and continentally, as the coaching staff will have to work hard to restore the players' morale. Meanwhile, Al Ittihad sent a strong message to all competitors in the continent that it is coming in strong to compete for the Asian title, benefiting from the constellation of international stars in its ranks who made the difference on the evening at the Radiant Jewel.

In a rapidly developing situation within the southern club, the board of directors of Damac FC reached a final and official agreement with Portuguese coach Armando Evangelista to mutually terminate his contract. This decision comes as part of the club's efforts to restructure the first team's technical staff and inject new blood into the coaching team to ensure improved results in the remaining matches of the season.

A source close to the Portuguese coach confirmed the news to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi, explaining the details of the separation: "Damac FC terminated its contract with Armando Evangelista by mutual consent in recent hours." The source emphasized a crucial point regarding the coach's reputation and relationship with the club, stating that "the rumors circulating about his dismissal are untrue. A friendly agreement was reached, and the matter was resolved professionally and in a manner befitting both parties.".

Carille... the expert choice in the Roshan League

Meanwhile, coinciding with Evangelista's departure, sources from "Al-Midan Al-Riyadi" revealed that Damac's management moved quickly to secure a replacement. Reports indicate an agreement has been reached with Brazilian coach Fabio Carille to take over the technical direction. Carille is a very familiar name in Saudi football, possessing extensive experience and a well-established track record from his previous stints managing major clubs such as Al-Ittihad and Al-Wehda. This history makes him a logical and safe choice for Damac's management, given his thorough understanding of the Saudi Professional League and the nature of Saudi players, thus minimizing the adaptation period that any new coach from outside the region might require.

The context of the competition and the challenges of the next round

This tactical change comes at a crucial time in the Roshan Professional League, where the competition is fierce across all positions. Mid-table clubs, including Damac, are striving to secure their places and avoid relegation, which explains the swift administrative action taken to rectify any dips in performance.

The team faces an immediate challenge to test the players' understanding of this new phase, as Damac prepares to meet Al-Taawoun in a tough match in the 22nd round of the competition. The match is scheduled for Friday evening, and all eyes will be on the players' reaction and how the new or interim coaching staff deals with the strength of Al-Taawoun, who have been performing impressively this season.

The curtain fell this Tuesday evening on the competitions of the twenty-first (21) round of the current season of the Yellow League for First Division clubs, with the holding of two matches that were characterized by competitiveness and excitement, as the teams continued their relentless pursuit to improve their positions in the standings as the competition enters its decisive stages.

Al-Anwar secures a valuable victory in the Central Derby

In the first match, Al-Anwar capitalized on home advantage to secure a crucial 2-1 victory over Jeddah. The first half was characterized by tactical caution from both sides, before the match came alive in the second half. Abdulaziz Damdam the scoring for Al-Anwar after 51 minutes, signaling the home team's intention to claim all three points.

The visitors' response was swift, with Mohammed Al-Saiari equalizing for Jeddah in the 62nd minute, bringing the game back to square one. Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, professional player Marlon Santos in the 71st minute, snatching a precious winning goal for Al-Anwar and giving his team a huge morale boost.

With this result, Al Anwar team’s tally jumped to (26) points, occupying the tenth position in the Yellow League standings, giving it relative stability in the safe zone, while Jeddah team’s tally froze at (27) points, dropping to ninth place, which ignites the competition in the middle of the table.

Excitement until the final minutes between Al-Wahda and Al-Faisaly

In the second match, which was characterized by an open, attacking style, Al Wahda was held to a 2-2 draw by their stubborn visitors, Al Faisaly. Al Faisaly took an early lead through Romell Kioto after 27 minutes, but Al Wahda responded quickly and decisively through Demba Diallo, who scored the equalizer in the 31st minute.

In the second half, Al Wahda continued their attacking pressure, with Fahad Al Talib scoring the opening goal in the 69th minute, bringing the team closer to securing the points. However, Al Faisaly refused to give up, and their player, Andrew Morato , snatched a dramatic equalizer in the 80th minute, resulting in a draw between the two teams.

This draw raised Al-Faisaly’s points to (33) in seventh place, keeping their hopes alive for competing for the top positions, while Al-Wahda’s points reached (23) in thirteenth place, a position that requires the team to double its efforts in the coming rounds to move away from the danger zones.

The importance of the round and its impact on the competition

These results are of paramount importance in the context of the fierce competition in the Yellow League this season. With the completion of matchday 21, the contours of the competition are becoming clearer, both in the race for promotion to the Roshan Professional League and in the battle to avoid relegation. The close points standings among mid-table teams (such as Jeddah and Al-Anwar) highlight the intensity of the competition, where any slip-up could drastically alter the league table.

The draw between Al-Faisaly and Al-Wahda reflects the difficulty of predicting match results, as established teams like Al-Faisaly strive to return to their rightful place among the elite, while Al-Wahda fights to get back on track. These rounds are crucial turning points that will determine the fate of the teams at the end of the season, increasing the psychological and technical pressure on players and coaching staff in the coming weeks.