JEDDAH, 19 April — All eyes are on today’s encounter between Al-Ittihad and Al-Nasr at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah to determine the team to contest the final for the coveted King’s Cup. The winners will play Al-Hilal which has qualified for the final after emerging the top team in the league.
Al- Ittihad boasts of the trio of Brazilian Sergio, Hasan Al-Yami and Hamza Idris, while Al-Nasr depend on the dangerous trio of Senegalese Kita Fadil, Bolivian Ceasar and Saudi Ali Yazid. However, Al-Ittihad’s Brazilian coach and Al-Nasr’s Argentine coach will play a great role in determining the two teams for the final lineups.
Al-Ittihad has been marching ahead vigorously in the past years with players who can take up any position in the game. The team has such strong pillars as Sergio, Saleh Al-Saqri, Muhammad Nur, Mabrouk Zayed. The coach Oscar will greatly depend on Saleh Al-Saqri at the left and the concerted moves of Al-Yami and Sergio. The team also will field experienced players such as Muhammad Al-Kheliewi at the central line and Khamis Al-Oweiran at center while Hamzah Idris will lead the attack.
The greatest advantage of Nasr in the current season is its stress on technical aspects. The coach has immense confidence in goalkeeper Muhammad Al-Khawjali and the unassailable defender Saleh Dawood and striker Ceasar. Its Mansour Al-Thagafi is ranked as one of the top stars of the season. The team will concentrate on relentless attack on the enemy camp.
Today’s match between the two teams will be the 89th encounter between them in the past 39 years. Al-Ittihad had 34 wins while Al-Nasr won 32 times.
