JEDDAH, 20 March 2003 — Four top Saudi soccer teams encountered few problems in the Crown Prince Soccer Cup knockout Tournament, clearing the first hurdle with panache. Big victories were the order of the day as Al-Nasr, Al-Ittifaq, Al-Shabab and Al-Ahli eased into the next round.
Al-Nasr set up a next round meeting with Al-Ittifaq after thrashing Tawoon 4-1 in Buraidah. And Ittifaq, who had struggled to find their form in the King Fahd Soccer Cup, were in their element as they swept past Al-Raid 3-0 at the Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
Shabab too dominated their encounter against Al-Najma at the Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Stadium. They struck on target four times without reply as they moved to the next round showdown with Ahli. Al-Ahli had the measure of Al-Nahda at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in a 4-1 romp, promising a scintillating battle in the next round against Shabab.
Today four matches are slated in the event. Al-Ittihad, the leaders in the King Fahd Soccer Tournament, will play Al-Taie at the Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Stadium here, while in Riyadh, Al-Ansar of Madinah face off with Al-Riyadh at the Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Stadium. But the match of the day promises to be the one between Al-Qadisiya and Al-Hilal at Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd Stadium in Dammam, while in Abha, Shola take on Abha.
