JEDDAH, 26 April 2006 — The AFC Champions League action resumes today with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup champions Al-Shabab and runners-up Al-Hilal facing difficult matches. Shabab host Al-Arabi of Kuwait in Riyadh while Hilal are in Karshi, Uzbekistan to face Mash’al.
Driven by the huge 3-0 win in the King’s Cup final against Hilal on Friday, Shabab will seek the three win points against Al-Arabi and make up for their 3-0 defeat in the first leg match in Kuwait on April 12.
Shabab rank second second with 4 points from a 2-0 win against Al Quwa Al Jawiya of Iraq in Lebanon, 0-0 draw against Al-Saad of Qatar in Riyadh and 3-0 loss against Al-Arabi of Kuwait in Kuwait. Al-Saad lead Group D with 7 points. Al-Arabi and Al Quwa Al Jawiya are third and fourth with 3 points each.
In Karshi, Hilal will try to make peace with their fans after losing the final match against Shabab by collecting three points against Mash’al. Hilal are unlikely to have an easy time as they will be in enemy territory despite the fact that Hilal hammered Mash’al in the first leg match 5-0 in Riyadh.
Hilal are in second place with six points from two wins against Al Mina’a of Iraq 3-1 and against Mash’al 5-0 in Riyadh and a surprising defeat against Al-Ain of UAE 2-0. Al-Ain are in first place of Group B with seven points.
