JEDDAH, 25 March 2003 — Al-Ahli and Al-Nasr advanced to the last four stage of the Crown Prince Abdullah Cup Soccer Tournament in contrasting styles yesterday. Al-Ahli registered a rip-roaring 4-1 victory over Al-Shabab, while Al-Nasr needed extra effort to quell the gritty challenge of Al-Ittifaq. Nasr won 2-1.
At the Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Ahli dictated terms from the word go and only allowed Shabab a look in late in the game, when they got their consolation goal.
Though Ahli dominated the first session, they could rack up only one strike in the period.
The goal came in the 15th minute after Hussein Abdulghani prodded the ball onto Muhammad Barakat’s path and Barakat, with only the Shabab goalkeeper to beat, placed the ball in clinically.
Ahli, on resumption, added their second in the 50th minute with Barakat once again hitting true after a fine solo run. Ten minutes later Ahli secured their third goal, this time Busheeb Lembarki met a perfect cross from Talal Al-Meshal and redirected it into the Shabab goal.
Lembarki then swiftly returned the compliment, by turning provider for Al-Meshal, who cut into the box, beat the goalkeeper and struck surely with an open goal in front of him.
Nasr had to rely on Cesar’s heroics to win the day. With the two teams level at 1-1 at the Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd Stadium in Dammam after regulation time, the golden goal rule was resorted to snap the stalemate.
Cesar, moving in dangerously during the first extra session, was hacked down by the Ittifaq defense in a desperate bid to ward off the danger. And Cesar picked himself up to convert the resultant penalty clinically.
Today, Al-Hilal take on Al-Shola, while Al-Ittihad face Al-Riyadh.
