JEDDAH, 21 April 2004 — A hat trick by Marzouk Al-Otaibi helped local premier club Al-Ittihad thrash Sepahan of Iran 4-0 and stay in the fray for a quarterfinal berth from Group C of the Asian Champions League.

Dominating the proceedings at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium throughout the game, Ittihad struck thrice in the first half before easing up in the second to run out easy victors. Al-Otaibi was on target in the 10th, 13th and 36th minutes and Brazilian Demba rounded off the tally with a 75th minute strike.

Meanwhile, Brazilian Edu scored a hat trick as South Korean club Chonbuk Motors thrashed Thailand’s BEC Tero 4-0 yesterday to go top of Group E. Victory in Bangkok lifted Chonbuk above Japan’s Jubilo Iwata on goal difference, but they have played one game more than the J-League leaders.

However, the South Korean FA Cup holders will have to win away at in-form Jubilo next month to have any realistic chance of going through to the quarterfinals.

The top team from the seven first-stage groups, plus 2003 winners Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates, advance to the last eight, to be played over two legs in September.

Substitute Edu capped a second-half treble with a superb solo effort in injury time as Chonbuk scored four against BEC — last season’s surprise Champions League runners-up — for the second time inside two weeks.

In Group B, UAE side Al Wahda extended their lead at the top of the group to two points after a goalless draw against Iraqi side Al Quwa Al Jawiya in neutral Damascus.

Riffa of Bahrain have suddenly pulled out of the Champions League citing security concerns a week before they were scheduled to play Uzbeki side Pakhtakor in Tashkent. The club now faces disciplinary action from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Ahli Outscore Ittifaq: King Fahd Cup

Meanwhile, Al-Ahli scored an important 2-0 win against Al-Ittifaq in the King Fahd Cup Soccer Tournament in Riyadh, writes Mahmoud Ahmad.

Khaled Gahwaji, the star of the match, scored both the goals in the 24th and 62nd minutes. The win enabled Ahli move a step closer toward entering the best of four teams, who will vie for the King Fahd trophy.

Ahli and Al-Nasr of Riyadh are battling for the fourth position as Ittifaq, following this loss, are out of fray. Ahli are now in fifth position with 31 points behind Al-Nasr, who have 33 points. Ahli’s chance of entering the best of four teams is bright and they need to win their next match against Al-Hilal Next Sunday. Al-Ittihad is on top of the group with 51 point, Al-Shabab second with 37 points and Hilal third with 37 points.

Manchester United Play Down Suicide Attack Claim

Manchester United soccer club played down reports yesterday it may have been the target of a suicide bomb plot. Britain’s Sun newspaper said the club’s 67,000-capacity Old Trafford stadium was the target of a terror attack plot by suspects arrested by police in raids on Monday. But Phil Townsend, spokesman for the club, said: “Old Trafford has not been identified as a target by police.”