أبو الشامات... ومعركة القادسية

Al-Ahli lost the top spot, and they may have lost something even greater in the final meters of the strongest league race in the region.

They stumbled against a direct competitor at a sensitive time, both in form and substance, after having led for the entire ninety minutes.

This season, matches between Al-Ahli and Al-Qadisiyah have always been characterized by physical struggles and roughness; sometimes legitimate, and at other times overlooked by the referee repeatedly.

This type of encounter requires a special reading... and a different type of players.

Matias failed in both aspects this time.

He started the match correctly, but ended it completely wrong, as he handed the entire second half over to the Eastern team and remained idle, waiting for some effort here or there.

As for the type of players suited for such battles, it is certain that Saleh Abu Al-Shamat is not one of them.

He is a skillful player, but such matches are not decided by skill alone, but by toughness, calmness, and a good sense of the moment, which he lacks.

The problem with Saleh is that he thinks he can do everything alone, to showcase a "show" moment that garners views on "TikTok" or "Snapchat," disregarding the sensitivity of the match and the pressure of the minutes.

Since his entry, the face of the attacking team has been completely distorted.

Al-Ahli became fragile and cold, and Saleh made grave mistakes with poor coverage and wrong passes, one of which almost ended the match completely.

And he didn't stop there;

when he left the field, he exited in a defeated manner, head down, hiding.

These small details are unknown to his age... and ignored by his experience.

Saleh didn't lift his head twice:

once when Toni was one-on-one, and once when leaving the field.

In general, such encounters at these critical times are not suitable for Saleh... nor is he suitable for them.

Mr. Matias bears full responsibility for putting him in at this time, and as a substitute for whom?

For Riyad Mahrez...

And I won't add more.

The Al-Ahli fans lost the battle against Al-Qadisiyah, but they have not lost the league war yet.

The league is still on the field

and they are just days away from the cup match,

so there is no time for regret or blame.

Recovering quickly is the solution...

And the most vivid image of recovery:

winning against Al-Hilal... and reaching the King’s Cup final.

A whisper:

The rains that sailors curse...

are the same ones that farmers pray for.