Asian Challenge League Sparks: Western Zone Delivers Drama as Kuwait, Lebanon, and Arab Clubs Shine

Group 1 recap

Arab clubs continued to stamp their mark as the Western zone reached the second matchday of the 2025-2026 Asian Challenge League. Shabab Oman climbed back from a first-half deficit to beat Abdish Ata 2-1, while Thein Sir swept aside Paro with a 3-1 victory, all at the same Thimphu venue. In the same group, Thein Sir’s win kept them atop the table with six points, with Shabab Oman close behind and Baro and Abdish Ata still waiting for a breakthrough.

The action also featured a detailed note on the goalscorers: Artem Bili opened the scoring for Abdish Ata in the 9th minute from 20 yards, before Majid Al-Saadi and Mohammed Al-Ghafri struck for Shabab Oman in the 44th and 77th minutes respectively to seal the comeback.

As the second half got underway, Shabab Oman pressed to seal the result and the group’s dynamic began to tilt toward the Oman-based side. The upcoming fixtures will see Thein Sir facing Shabab Oman and Baro meeting Abdish Ata as the group heads toward its decisive third round.

Group 2 recap

The second group delivered a Gulf clash and a tight draw. An-Nasr Lebanon ran out 3-0 winners over Bashundara Kings, while Kuwait were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Seeb at the Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium in Kuwait. The group standings see Kuwait and Al Seeb tied on points, with An-Nasr sitting a bit behind but still in the mix as the third round approaches.

The group’s matchups included a first-half siege from An-Nasr that yielded a decisive lead, and a resilient Kuwait side that found an equalizer in the late phase. Bashundara Kings failed to trouble the scoreboard as the group kept its Gulf-wide flavor and drama alive.

Group 3 recap

Arab Kuwait took a narrow 2-1 win over Regar-TadAZ in Bishkek as the third group unfurled. The visitors opened the scoring through Shervoni Mabatzhyev, but Abdul Aziz Al-Ansari and Yusuf Majid struck back for the Kuwaiti club to complete the turnaround. In the same venue, Muras United upset Safa 2-0, placing the Kyrgyz champions in a strong position in Group 3.

With Safa and Regar-TadAZ left with a single point each after round two, the stage is set for a climactic final round where Regar-TadAZ faces Safa and Muras United takes on the Arabic side, while Al-Arabi and other contenders look to capitalize on any slip-ups. The group’s top four teams are still very much in the hunt, underscoring the tournament’s competitive balance.

Sniper’s endnote: If this group stage were a badge, it would be a silver-edged one—looking slick, slightly dangerous, and always aiming for the back of the net. Punchline time: the only thing sharper than the crosses on the wings are the puns flying around the dugout; aim true, coach, aim true. And remember: in football as in life, timing is everything—especially when the clock is counting down and the popcorn is in full glow.