ABHA, 16 August 2004 — Saudi Arabia’s Al-Shabab Club were held 1-1 by Al-Rajaa Club of Morocco in the International Friendship Tournament here yesterday.
Rajaa led following an own goal by Shabab’s defender Muhammad Al-Hamdan, while Shabab equalized through Hamad Hadi after a sustained period of domination.
The second match between Al-Ahli and Al-Nasr, both Saudi teams, also ended in a 1-1 draw with both the teams missing several golden opportunities.
Rami Al-Sahli of Ahli scored in the 20th minute with a powerful shot to the Nasr net. Nasr swiftly went on the attack and notched the equalizer in the 40th minute through Ahmed Al-Khair.
Contrasting Opening Wins for Arsenal and Chelsea
In London, Champions Arsenal began the defense of their Premier League title by outclassing a poor Everton side 4-1 while Chelsea edged fellow title-contenders Manchester United 1-0 in two contrasting matches yesterday, agencies add.
Arsenal were simply far too good for a poor Everton side and were never remotely in danger of losing after taking the lead through Dennis Bergkamp on 23 minutes.
Chelsea meanwhile were made to fight every inch of the way for their narrow 1-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge which marked a great start to the English managerial career of Chelsea’s new Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho.
The only goal at Stamford Bridge was scored by Eidur Gudjohnsen after 15 minutes but injury-hit Manchester United never stopped threatening in a tightly-contested game.
The results meant that Arsenal immediately went to the top of the table after the opening weekend’s results -- albeit on alphabetical order.
They displaced Bolton Wanderers, the overnight leaders after their 4-1 win over Charlton Athletic on Saturday -- but there is little reason to doubt Arsenal will be in that position as the season progresses.
After Bergkamp gave Arsenal the lead further goals from Jose Antonio Reyes (39th), Frederik Ljungberg (54th) and substitute Robert Pires (83rd) saw Arsenal stretch their unbeaten league run to 41 matches since May 2003.
Bergkamp, 35, playing in the 500th league match of his career, opened the scoring when he lashed home an angled drive after a typical Arsenal breakaway after 23 minutes.
Reyes doubled their lead with a 39th minute header and Ljungberg secured the points when he prodded home a Thierry Henry cross from close range. Pires made it 4-1, converting a rebound after the ball bounced back off a post from an Ashley Cole effort.
Chelsea were made to battle hard for the points against United, who had nine of their first team missing either through injury, suspension or the Olympics. Despite that United never stopped battling and only a superb display by debutant Peter Cech in the Chelsea goal and some superb defending kept United out.
The only goal came after 15 minutes when Quinton Fortune allowed Geremi to escape in midfield after misjudging the bounce of a ball.
The Cameroonian international played the ball up to debutant Didier Drogba who headed on to Gudjohnsen who eluded a poor challenge from United keeper Tim Howard and a late one from makeshift centre back Roy Keane to score a scrappy goal.
Dundee and Inverness Caledonian Thistle Secure First Wins
Dundee made the short trip to Tannadice Park yesterday and returned home happy after beating Dundee United 2-1 in a keenly contest Scottish Premier League derby.
Steve Lovell’s penalty put them ahead after 17 minutes and they doubled their lead two minutes after halftime when John Sutton converted a Lovell cross.
Alan Archibald headed a last minute consolation goal for United.
Newly-promoted Inverness Caledonian Thistle also scored a notable win — their first since going up — when they beat Dunfermline 2-0 with goals from Stuart Golabek after 12 minutes and Juanjo 20 minutes from time.
