Sami Al-Trabelsi: We Dropped Points and Deserved to Win, Looking to Bounce Back

Tunisian police team coach Sami Al-Trabelsi appeared alongside midfielder Ali Mohsen at the press conference following the 1-1 draw with Karbala on Sunday evening at Al-Qafas Stadium, in the first round of the Iraqi Premier League.

Al-Qithara took the lead in the first half but squandered three points in the 93rd minute, in a match that saw an early injury to Ali Mohsen and a red card for Karbala.

Tarablsi began his remarks by saying:

"The result is unfair based on what we showed on the pitch. We controlled most of the match, reached the opponent's goal, scored, and took the lead, but we didn't close the game at the right time."

He added: "The injury that Ali Mohsen suffered in the 14th minute disrupted our plans. He is a key element in our balance, and we had to change our game strategy early. Maytham Jabbar came in and did his job, but an enforced substitution always costs you."

Regarding the last-minute equalizer, the coach said: "Our focus in the final minutes was not up to the required level. Even after a player from Karbala was sent off, we did not exploit the numerical advantage correctly. We made a coverage mistake and paid the price in stoppage time."

He continued: "I don't want to place all the blame on the players. Football is about small details. But we must learn from this lesson. You can't settle for just one goal against a team that is fighting with all its strength for a point."

He concluded his remarks: "The league is long. A point is better than nothing, but our ambition at Police is always to win, especially at home. We will work this week on the mental and physical aspects. The next match requires greater focus from the first minute until the final whistle."

Al Shorta player Ali Mohsen, who left the pitch injured at the start of the match, spoke about his setback:

"Thank God for everything. The injury was severe, and I felt pain immediately, so I couldn't continue. I apologize to the coaching staff and my teammates because my early exit affected the team's performance."

He added: "We deserved the three points. We started well and took the lead, and we could have scored a second. But in football, when you don't kill the game, you get punished. The equalizer in the 93rd minute was tough for everyone."

Regarding playing with ten men, Karbala's coach said: "We expected the match to become easier after the red card, but the opposite happened. Karbala defended with all their might and relied on counterattacks. We must give them their due; they played with bravery until the end."

He concluded: "This is the first match and nothing is over. The Al-Shorta fans deserve the best from us, and we promise to make it up to them in the next round. I will work on returning quickly to help the team."

With this draw, Al-Shorta starts their journey with one point out of the three they were seeking at home. The team displayed technical superiority and possession but struggled with decisiveness and game management in the final moments.

Karbala leaves with a valuable point and high morale, especially after playing half an hour with ten players and equalizing in stoppage time.