JEDDAH, 9 April 2008 — Al-Ahli try to save whatever is left of a failed campaign when they battle Al-Wehda of UAE today in the AFC Champions League football tournament.
Ahli enter the match at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium here looking to win their last elimination match in Group C.
Ahli are currently in third place of the competition with a mere one point from 2-0 loss against Al-Saad and a 1-1 draw against Al-Karama of Syria in Jeddah. With five points already lost, Ahli are out of contention as only the group winners advance into the quarterfinals. Al-Wehda are last of the group with one point. Al-Karama and Al-Saad, tied on 4 points, are first and second on goal difference.
Serbian coach Nebusha, unable to stem the Ahli rot, got the sack and a new man at the helm, Yousuf Anbar, was introduced at a press conference at Jeddah Marriott Hotel.
Anbar said both teams are in the bottom of the group and in a position neither want to be in. Ahmad Abdul Haleem, Al-Wehda coach, said that the team were focusing mainly on the UAE league. He said that what is happening this season is very strange and it should have never happened to both teams, adding he hopes to see a good match between the teams.
In contrast to Ahli the other Saudi side in the tournament, Al-Ittihad, are very much in the thick of things. They face Sepahan in the third match of Group A today.
Ittihad are in first place with 6 points from two wins against Ittihad of Syria and Kuruvchi Tashkent from Uzbekistan. Ittihad of Syria are second with 3 points from two matches and Kuruvchi Tashkent third with 3 points also. Sepahan of Iran are last with no point.
Though Ittihad are favorites the team coach warned against Sepahan surprise saying that the current standing of Sepahan does not guarantee an easy win.
