JEDDAH, 27 September 2004 — Al-Ittihad found their touch at the right time to record a 4-2 victory over archrival Al-Ahli in the King Fahd Soccer League here yesterday. They led 2-1 at the break. Both the teams were reduced to ten men after Ittihad’s Brazilian import Mario and Ahli’s Ali Al-Abdali were sent off for fighting.
Mohammad Nour opened the scoring with a 12th penalty conversion that was neutralized by Ahli in the 30th minute by Brazilian striker Betcher, whose curling set piece strike swerved toward the left corner of the Ittihad goal.
After the two players had been given their marching orders, Ittihad again went ahead in the 38th minute when Hamza Idrees’ long range shot sailed over the Ahli goalkeeper and dipped in neatly into the goal for a stunner.
Ahli began the second half disastrously when they conceded an own goal in the 60th minute through Walid Abdo Raboo and Ibrahim Suwaid struck Ittihad’s fourth six minutes later to sink Ahli, who got a 86th minute consolation from Talal Al-Meshal.
