Al Arabi went down 1-2 to Al Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia in Round 3 (Group B) of the 2024-2025 Gulf Club Champions League at the Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

Karl Louis (Koko) Ekambi scored a brace for Ettifaq in the 18th and 75th minutes, while Abdou Diallo pulled one back for Al Arabi in 45+2 minute.

The hosts could well have been in the front as early as the fourth minute of the match, but a Diallo diagonal kick just wide to right.

Ettifaq then gained advantage through a defensive lapse as Jassim Jaber lost hold of the ball and Ekambi snatched the chance to move ahead and score past a diving goalkeeper Jassim Al Hail.

In the 42nd minute, a Wassim Kedari header after he leapt high to connect a corner kick missed the top of goal on left by inches.

Soon, Diallo provided a fine strike to level scores for the hosts, heading into the break.

The second session saw both sides launch attacks, but failing to find a finish.

With action becoming more intense past the hour mark, Al Arabi also survived a VAR check against substitute Ahmed Alaaeldin for a red card as the referee ruled out any foul play.

Al Arabi then suffered a setback as Ettifaq launched a concerted attack from the right and Joao Gabriel broke in but his kick was well saved by Al Arabi’s Abdulla Al Sulaiti but the ball flew towards a waiting Ekambi on the left to encash on the chance.

Al Arabi tried hard to score another equalizer but were met with a lot of resistance, but they came close on a few occasions.

The result took Ettifaq’s tally to six points from two wins in two games, while Al Arabi have one point after two matches. Riffa and Qadsia, who have played three matches each, have four and two points respectively.

This new version of Gulf Club Champions League includes eight teams divided into two groups with matches held on home-and-away basis. The top two teams from each group qualify for the semifinals.