JEDDAH, 18 January 2003 — Al-Ittihad began its campaign in the Arab League Cup Soccer tournament for Prince Faisal Cup with a 4-1 romp over Al-Qadisiya of Kuwait.
In the other match of he day, Al-Malab of Tunisia and Olympic of Libya shared points in a goalless encounter.
Al-Ittihad began with a flourish with a gilt-edged chance being foiled in the third minute when Ittihad’s Manaf Abu Shugier’s cross was neatly met by Hamza Idrees, but the goalkeeper held on cleanly to the Idrees’ shot.
Manaf, who had a sterling day, was instrumental in helping Ittihad forge ahead. In the 18th minute, he essayed a crisp center to Muhammad Nur, who put the ball in the back of the net with a neat right-footer. Ittihad sustained the pressure and came close in the 22nd and 25th minutes to add to the tally.
Ittihad, however, suffered a blow when Manaf left the field due to injury, and he was substituted by Hasan Al-Yami in the 38th minute. And in the very next minute Ittihad tasted success. Idrees prompted Sergio with a delicate through ball, and the Brazilian, with only the Qadisiya goalkeeper to beat, placed a superb ball to the custodian’s left for his side’s second goal. In the second half Al-Qadisiya pulled one back in the sixth minute to infuse some life into the proceedings. Mishaal Al-Anazi struck the penalty clinically to make it 1-2. But Al-Ittihad responded soon, three minutes later, with Landomar converting a penalty to put the result of the game beyond doubt. The penalty was a result of a beautiful one-two combination between Idrees and Nur. Idrees till then the provider turned scorer in the 65th minute sending in a rocketing first-timer after being put ahead by a splendid pass from Sergio to complete the rout.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal and Al-Raid played out a 1-1 draw in the King Fahd Cup Soccer Tournament yesterday. Abdullah Jamaan scored for Hilal in the 25th minute and Bandar Al-Aleghi secured the equalizer with a 56th minute penalty strike.
The stunning draw left Hilal in second place after losing a chance to take the lead. Hilal, Ittihad, the leaders, and Al-Qadisiya are all tied on 26 points, but Hilal are on second on goal difference. In another game, Al-Ittifaq and Shola too drew 1-1 in Dammam. Claudio put Shola ahead in the 21st minute and this lead was canceled out by a 75th minute own goal.
