JEDDAH, 28 September 2005 — Defending champions Al-Ittihad of Jeddah play the semifinals in the AFC Champions League today in South Korea against home team Busan Ipark.
Ittihad enter the first leg match in high spirits having crushed previously undefeated China’s Shandong Luneng 7-2 here for an 8-3 aggregate win after a draw in China 1-1 in the two-leg quarterfinal. The match starts 2:30 p.m. Saudi time.
Busan Ipark, coached by Scotsman Ian Porterfield, easily secured their place when they defeated Al-Saad in Doha 2-1 for a 5-1 aggregate score. Mohammed Noor, Ittihad captain, will miss this highly awaited match after receiving his second yellow card in their last match in Jeddah.
The good news, however, is that striker Job and national Saudi defender Hamad Al-Muntashari will both be playing in their first game back from injures.
Busan have been put under pressure by the local media back home to win after Korean teams lost matches in the past.
After Ittihad lost 3-1 at home the Saudi side rallied and won 5-0 in Korea in a memorable climax in the last year’s Champions League final. The Saudi national team also topped their group by beating the South Korean national team 1-0 in Seoul and relegating them to second in the World Cup qualifiers. The Kingdom had also won the Dammam match 2-0.
