JEDDAH, 25 October 2007 — Al-Wehda of Makkah blew the chance to score three valuable points last night with a 1-1 draw against ES Setif in the Arab Club Championship at home.

Al-Wehda took control for the most part of the 90-minute match but failed to please their fans with a winning goal.

Setif of Algeria opened the scoresheet after breaking through the poor defense by Wehdawi defender Talal Al-Khybari, who lost ball possession to Setif forward Adiko Remi Marcel. The Algerian player didn’t hesitate in taking advantage of the defensive error as his shot was deflected off the defender’s feet under the goalkeeper’s legs into the net.

Al-Wehda played a good first half but failed to reach the guests’ net. Despite strong attempts by Wehdawi forwards Essa Muhani and Alaa Kuwakipim the red and white Makkah-based club failed to pull in the equalizer in the first half. Setif’s counterattack strategy came through in the first half they ended 1-0 in their favor.

The Stallions entered the second half determined to win the first leg of the contest between the two teams. The home team took control by dictating the pace and moving the ball to their side of the field for most of the second half though the visitors managed to launch some shots on the Wehdawi goal.

The team from Makkah displayed one of their best performances in the season in style in front of a full house.

Essa Al-Muhanyni came close to scoring when he was brought in the 64th minute and his powerful free kick was blocked by ES Setif’s star player of the day goalie Samir Hajawi’s.

It was all downhill from there for the Makawis as they started pressing the visitors to their side of the stadium.

The home crowd got what they wanted in the 71st minute when Ahmad Al-Mousa equalized with a power shot into the net sending the crowd into a frenzy.

The equalizer didn’t slow down the home team and instead the hosts ratcheted up the pressure on Setif in search of the winning goal. Hajawi met the home team’s continued attempts courageously one after another. Hajawi thwarted the Wehdawi forward when they came face to face in the 74th minute.

In the 84th minute Wehdawi defender Khaled Al-Hamzi fired a strong shot to the goal that was met by flying Hajawi who succeeded in depriving the home team a well-deserved three points.