JEDDAH, 23 March 2005 — Al-Shabab and Al-Nasr battled to a 1-1 draw yesterday in the King Fahd Cup soccer tournament.
The day’s other match between Al-Ahli and Al-Taie in Hail also ended in a 1-1 standoff as did the Monday Al-Hilal-Al-Wehda game in Riyadh.
The results enabled Shabab and Hilal to keep their 1-2 places in the standings. Both teams have 40 points in 18 games although Shabab leads Hilal on goal difference 21-19.
At Prince Faisal ibn Fahd stadium in Riyadh, Nasr managed to pry one point against the favored Shabab squad.
An 81st minute penalty kick converted by Ibrahim Mater gave Nasr parity in the match where the sides failed to score the entire first half.
Manga put Shabab ahead by rifling a goal in the 78th minute from a deflected shot.
That left Nasr with no more than 12 minutes to score the equalizer that thankfully came when Nasr was awarded that penalty kick after Abdulrahman Al-Thagafi was tackled from behind inside the penalty box.
The draw left Nasr still in fourth position with 31 points.
In Hail, Ahli failed to secure the full three points after being dragged to a drab standoff by Taie who equalized in the 78th minute.
Ahli was put first on the scoresheet by Brazilian international Rogerio who netted a goal in the 63rd minute.
Taie pounced on the weak Ahli defense to eventually put themselves on equal footing with the visitors. With the draw, Ahli missed the chance to close the gap on Nasr remaining in fifth place with 26 points. Taie moved up to 8th place with 20 points. Next Sunday, Ahli take on Nasr in an important match in Jeddah.
