Sami Trabelsi: We let victory slip away, but we'll seek redemption next time

Tunisia's Al-Police 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 lost three points in the 93rd minute, in a match that saw an early injury to Ali Mohsen and a red card for Karbala. The game was filled with tension as both teams fought hard for dominance.

The coach started his talk by saying:

"The result is unfair considering 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 out the game at the right time."

He added: "The injury that Ali Mohsen suffered in the 14th minute disrupted our plans. He is an important element for balance, and we had to change our playing idea early. Maytham Jabbar came in and did his job, but an enforced change 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 the sending off of a player from Karbala, we did not capitalize on 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 be satisfied with just one goal against a team that is fighting hard for a point."

He concluded his remarks: "The league is long. A point is better than nothing, but the ambition of the Police is always to win, especially on our home ground. 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 hard 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 valiantly 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 campaign 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 departs with a valuable point and high morale, especially after playing half an hour with ten players and equalizing in stoppage time.