JEDDAH, 22 January 2003 — Al-Ittihad of Jeddah went on a scoring spree against Al-Wehda of Syria, running up a 7-0 verdict in a match that ended the slim hopes of the Syrian team in the Arab League Soccer Tournament for Prince Faisal Cup here yesterday. Ittihad led 2-0 at the break.
Earlier, Tunisia’s Al-Malab secured a place in the second phase along with Olympic of Libya, when they beat Mariekh of Sudan 4-1.
Osama Al-Salami of Malab scored the first goal in the 18th minute and this was embellished by Abdul Andai just before the interval. Al-Numeri of Mariekh gave the match a bit of verve when he pulled one back with a header.
But strikes from Tawfik Al-Salhi, crowning a 79th minute solo effort, and another by Muhammad Al-Siliti in injury time sent the Sudan team packing.
In the second match of the day, Ittihad began slowly but finished at a frenetic pace that overwhelmed Wehda. After a slow early midfield battle, Ittihad’s first clear effort that tested the Wehda goalkeeper came in the 14th minute. It also prove the start of the Ittihad’s wave of attacks.
And in the 29th minute Wehda defenders, in their bid to clear off the danger, brought down Ittihad attacker Sergio in the penalty area. Sergio broke through following a superb bout of passes between Hamza Idrees, Muhammad Nur and Sergio. Landomar stepped up to score the 29th minute award.
Then just on the stroke of the interval, winger Hamad Al-Essa scored, seeing his powerful long shot dip into an empty goal with the goalkeeper well advanced. Ittihad sustained their domination and then began their five-goal blitz in the second period.
In the 64th minute, Nur scored the third via a header following a free kick, and Sergio added the fourth and fifth goals in the 81st and 83rd minutes, the fifth from a set piece.
Sergio was then brought down once again in the injury time resulting in a penalty kick that was converted by Hamza Idrees, and Sergio completed a hat trick in the very next minute of the extra session for his side’s seventh goal. Ittihad advance to the next round along with Qadisiya of Kuwait.
