JEDDAH, 5 August 2003 — Saudi teams failed to make an impact in the Seventh Sadaka Soccer Tournament in Asir yesterday when Al-Nasr of Riyadh lost and the Saudi Olympic team were held to a draw.
The Saudi Olympic team gained their first point against Iran’s Fajer Al-Shaheed in a 1-1 draw.
They had earlier lost to the Iraqi Olympic squad, who notched their second straight victory with a 5-1 defeat of Al-Nasr.
Al-Nasr went on the offensive from the start and looked to be the in-form team for the first quarter and during this period of ascendancy, Bandar Al-Tamimi scored in the 15th minute.
This goal stung the Iraq team into action and they went on a scoring spree from then on with Younus Mahmoud registering a hat trick.
But the goal fest was triggered by Mahdi Karim in the 33rd minute. Then Mahmoud got into the act with the first of his three strikes in the 35th minute.
The team changed ends with the Iraqi side holding a 2-1 edge and this was increased to 3-1 when Saleh Sidair hit home in the 47th minute. Two more goals in the 57th and 60th minute by Mahmoud completed the rout.
Today is a rest day with Asir playing the Moroccan Olympic team in the first game and the Syrian Olympic side taking on Al-Hilal in the second game tomorrow.
