JEDDAH, 19 October — Yusri Al-Basha was the toast of Al-Ittefaq yesterday when he capped a hat trick performance with a golden goal that helped Al-Ittefaq lift the glittering Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Cup yesterday with a 4-3 victory over defending champions Al-Ahli.
In a pulsating final at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium here, the Dammam outfit got the measure of yet another Jeddah side to win a veritable goalfest of an encounter. Ittefaq had beaten Al-Ittihad 4-0 in the semifinals, and they once again proved to be on mark with their shooting boots against Ahli.
Six goals came in regulation time with neither side allowing the other to gain ascendancy. This allowed for a fast-paced encounter with the goals, on the either ends, spicing up the fare. But Yusri once again came true when it counted most, striking his third in the first session of the extra time, to break the 3-3 regulation time stalemate, and completing his hat trick to provide the winner for Ittefaq.
Ittefaq won the cup for the second time. It first won the Cup in 1991 when it was called the Federation Cup. Ahli had been the winners of the last two editions.
It was Ittefaq who began strongly by going up by two goals in the space of 17 minutes. Yusri struck the first in the 22nd, and following a fine combination move Abdul Aziz Al-Dossary scored the second in the 39th to put Ittefaq in command.
But Ahli, playing in front of its fans, kept up a sustained pressure with international striker Talal Mishaal being the most creative. They came storming back in the second session with two quick penalties, both converted by Ibrahim Suwaid in the 46th and 69th minute.
And when Saleh Al-Muhammadi hit home in 85th minute it looked like Ahli would carry the day.
But Yusri had other ideas. He brought Ittefaq back in the game with an 88th minute equalizer and, with Ittefaq sustaining the attacking flow in the first half of the extra session, Yusri did the trick with his golden strike in the 94th minute of play with a smashing shot to the left corner of the net.
