JEDDAH, 13 October 2005 — Al- Ittihad hammered out a clinical 2-0 victory against Busan I'Park yesterday in the return leg here and qualified for the final of the AFC Champions League on aggregate score of 7-0. They won the semifinal first leg in Korea by 5-0.
Sierra Leone national team striker Mohammed Kallon headed in a high riser that newly-joined right back Ahmed Al-Dokhi lobbed from near midfield for Ittihad's first goal in the 18th minute.
The hosts were in command for the better part of the game although the Koreans kept pushing forward in search of a goal that never came in the second half.
Both teams had a slow first half start although the home team appeared more confident while the visitors had resigned themselves on playing to just win and not qualify in order "to erase the effect of a big loss back home" according to the Busan coach.
During the second half, Ittihad played on the same level of rhythm of the first, while the visitors pushed harder to score in an attempt to level the score.
On the 55th minute the home team drew a foul after the energetic Al-Dokhi was brought down just outside the box. Chico volleyed the ball which was met by midfielder Ibrahim Al-Suwaid.
Two minutes later, Kallon scored the second goal after receiving a terrific cross from Suwaid . The visitors tried to come back with a goal only to find the home team defense rock solid. Hammad Al-Muntashari, Saudi national defender, was named the game's most valuable player.
Fans rocked the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal stadium during the last minutes of the game celebrating their Ittihad's qualification to the Asian Champions League final where they will play Al Ain of UAE.
Al Ain qualified after holding Shenzhen Jianlibao to a goalless draw and winning the two-leg semifnal series 6-0 on aggregate.
