JEDDAH, 10 March 2004 — Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli scored important wins in the first leg semifinal of the Prince Abdullah Cup Soccer Tournament. While Ittihad beat Al-Nasr 3-1, Ahli recorded an impressive 2-1 victory against Hilal in Jeddah on Monday.
Ahli was the first to score in the 11th minute through striker Talal Al-Meshal and Hilal’s woes increased when they were reduced to ten men with defender Sofo getting the marching orders for a hard tackle on Ahli striker Rogerio.
Hilal however, kept up the pressure and managed to score the equalizer from a spectacular Bandar Al-Mutair goal in the 61st minute. With the numerical disadvantage weighing on their minds, Hilal made some defensive changes and pulled back in the hope of ending the tie 1-1, and hoping to put away Ahli’s challenge in Riyadh next Friday.
Ahli kept pushing forward and had to wait for the winner in the 89th minute. Ibraheem Suwaeed struck the key goal. The Friday match in Riyadh will determine the winner who will play in the final against the winner of the Ittihad-Nasr clash.
In the other contest played a day earlier, Ittihad scored an easy win in a match that they dominated. Nasr stunned Ittihad in the third minute through a headed goal from Abdulrahman Al-Bishi. But Muhammad Nur, the pivot in Ittihad’s attack, equalized in the 24th minute. Ittihad added the second goal in the 39th minute through Chico, a goal that was the best so far in the championship.
Nasr had to play one man down after Naser Al-Halawi was sent out for robust play against Nur and then Ittihad added an insurance goal in the 90th minute of the match Brazilian Demba converting a penalty award. Ittihad will play their away match against Nasr in Riyadh next Thursday.
Arsenal Keen to Finish Off Celta in Style
In London Colney, England, Arsenal are determined to finish Celta Vigo off in style in the second leg of their Champions League first knockout round tie at Highbury today, agency adds.
The Premier League leaders hold a 3-2 advantage from the first leg in Vigo but insist they will not simply defend their lead.
“We will go into this game trying to win because that is the only way we can play,” manager Arsene Wenger told reporters yesterday.
“If we suddenly just try to kick the ball into the stand or kill time to defend the lead, that is not us, so we want to be faithful to our quality. I am sure this will be an exciting game because Celta have to go for it as well and we know it will be tricky because they are a good side despite their position at the bottom of the table in Spain.
“My players have set themselves a high standard recently and they want to keep playing well and maintain the momentum.”
Brazilian midfielder Gilberto, meanwhile, thinks Arsenal are playing so well that they would give his international team a difficult game.
“Arsenal are playing like Brazil at the moment,” Gilberto said. “Both teams have a lot of great players and the technique and quality of their game is fantastic.”
“If that match ever happened I think it would be great for the people watching because there would be so many excellent players on the pitch.
“I think it would be a close game and it’s difficult to say who would win. And I’m not sure I could choose which team I would want to play for.
“We are confident for the Celta Vigo game, but we know they are still dangerous so we have to maintain our high level from the last few matches.”
Arsenal are nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table and reached the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday with a 5-1 drubbing of Portsmouth.
