MANAMA, 18 March — Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia scored a crucial 1-0 victory over hosts Moharraq in the third-round match of the 19th GCC Clubs Football Championship last night at the National Stadium.
The game was a decisive one as both sides are the favorites for the title and were unbeaten before their clash. A 73rd-minute goal by striker Obaid Al Dossari sealed the triumph for the Saudis.
Ahli extended their lead over Moharraq by three points with a total of nine points from three matches. This win has almost ensured them the title as they have one more match in hand.
Al Ahli, coached by Belgian coach Loca Berzovich, went to the match in full force, including international Hussain Abdul Ghani, Khalid Al Shenaif, Salih Al Mohammadi, Ibrahim Suwayed and Talal Al Mishaal.
The Saudis got a big blow when Al Mishaal was injured in the early stages of the game and Borzovich was forced to field key player Khalid Qahwaji to cover the gap.
In the second half, things got in favor of the home side who made serious efforts through Mohammed Jaffer, Hussain Ali, Mohammed Salmeen and Jordanian international Mohannad Mahadeen, but still couldn’t find the target.
Moharraq paid dearly for wasting all those chances as Al Ahli opened the scoring when Mohammed Shaikh Tiam’s first touch after being substituted reached Obaid Al Dossary who sent a powerful header past Ali Hassan.
In an earlier match, Kuwait of Kuwait and the UAE’s Al Shabab fought out a 2-2 draw.
Inter join Roma at top in Serie A
A fine individual performance from two-goal Alvaro Recoba saw Inter Milan win 2-1 at Lecce yesterday and join champions AS Roma at the top of the Italian first division.
The Uruguayan’s two goals put Inter joint top with Roma who overcame Atalanta 3-1 on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium.
But the fight for the Scudetto remains a three-way battle with third-placed Juventus staying within a point of the co-leaders with a home 1-0 win over Verona sealed by Pavel Nedved’s first-half goal.
With seven games remaining it is too close to call with Inter and Roma set to meet at the San Siro next week and the distinct possibility that two teams could finish joint top, a result that would lead to a play-off for the title with goal difference not taken into account.
If all three teams finished level then a mathematical formula would eliminate the weakest side and the other two would contest the playoff.
Southerners Lecce had made it tough for Inter at the Stadio Via del Mare with some stout defending early in the match but after 41 minutes Recoba outpaced marker Lorenzo Stovini and beat Lecce goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti.
Midway through the second period Recoba, who also scored twice at Lecce last season, pounced again after a move instigated by his Dutch teammate Clarence Seedorf.
Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo saved a late penalty from Lecce’s Croatian striker Davor Vugrinec who did belatedly get on the scoresheet in injury time.
At Turin it was Czech international Nedved who settled the match for Juve at Verona’s expense when he fired the hosts in front with his trusty left foot.
Eugenio Corini hogged the limelight at Verona as Chievo met bottom club Venezia. The Chievo playmaker scored an early own goal but redeemed himself after the interval from the penalty spot as the match finished 1-1.
Also 1-1 was Fiorentina’s match with high-flying Bologna. Fiorentina’s Argentinian midfielder Ezequiel Gonzalez gave the struggling outfit from Florence a surprise lead but his compatriot Julio Cruz hit back after the break for Bologna who are looking likely candidates for next year’s Champions League.
Lazio were held 1-1 at struggling Brescia who grabbed a point with an injury-time penalty from Argentinian Andres Yllana.
Fowler’s early double inspires
Leeds to victory
In London, a quickfire double by Robbie Fowler inspired Leeds United to a 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Elland Road yesterday that kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
The England striker scored twice in the first eight minutes as David O’Leary’s side moved to within five points of fourth-placed Newcastle United, who occupy the last Champions League qualifying spot at present. It was only sixth-placed Leeds’ second win in 12 games and left League Cup winners Blackburn fifth from bottom, only two points above the relegation zone.
Fowler raced through from inside his own half to put Leeds in front after five minutes and then converted an Alan Smith cross three minutes later despite Rovers’ appeals for offside.
The 26-year-old has now scored 11 goals in 16 games since his surprise move from Liverpool last November.
Blackburn, minus the suspended Andy Cole, pulled one back four minutes into the second half through Matt Jansen after a horrendous mix-up between Leeds captain Rio Ferdinand and his defensive partner Jonathan Woodgate.
