The 2018-19 season QSL Cup will kick off today. It is one of the tournaments organised by the Qatar Stars League Management. Participation is mandatory for all 12 QNB Stars League teams. The inaugural edition of the QSL Cup was held in the 2009-10 season. It was revived in 2017-18 after a gap of three seasons. Al Gharafa defeated Al Rayyan 3-2 in last year’s final.
The competition serves its purpose as young players get as much playing time as possible, thereby providing their clubs and the Qatar national team with a wider player pool to choose from, especially since the country is gearing up to compete in the Asian Cup in the UAE in January, 2019.
Fixtures are scheduled during international breaks when the QNB Stars League is stopped. The tournament is also a great platform for clubs to unearth new talents and they give opportunities to as many Under-23 players as possible. Group A consists of Al Duhail, Al Gharafa, Umm Salal, Al Arabi, Qatar SC and Al Kharaitiyat. Group B includes Al Sadd, Al Rayyan, Al Sailiya, Al Khor, Al Ahli and Al Shahania.
The Round 1 fixtures today, are Al Duhail vs Al Kharaitiyat (18:10) at Al Duhail Stadium, Umm Salal vs Al Arabi (18:10) and Al Gharafa vs Qatar SC (20:20), both at Qatar SC Stadium. Tomorrow it will be Al Sadd vs Al Shahania (18:10) at Qatar SC Stadium, Al Rayyan vs Al Ahli (18:10) at Al Gharafa Stadium and Al Sailiya vs Al Khor (20:20) at Al Duhail Stadium.
The draw for the 2018-19 season QSL Cup was made on 29th August. The clubs were ranked according to their order in last season’s QNB Stars League standings, with promoted Al Shahania replacing relegated Al Markhiya as the last team.
The change in format will see the six-team group stage being followed by knockout quarter-finals instead of four teams directly qualifying for the semifinals last season. The first-four teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals, where the winners of Group A face fourth team of Group B.
The other quarter-finals will be second-placed team of Group A vs third-placed team of Group B, third-placed team of Group A vs second-placed team of Group B and fourth-placed team of Group A vs winners of Group B. The final is scheduled for 2nd February, 2019. While some clubs are preparing with their full squad, others are deprived of it as their overseas professional players are on international duty. Some of the Qatari players are also away to do duty for the Qatar national team for its friendlies against China (7th September) and Palestine (11th September).




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