JEDDAH, 13 September 2003 - Champions Al-Ittihad sustained their winning sequence to vault to the top of the King Fahd Premier Soccer League with their third victory in three outings to emerge as the only unbeaten team after three rounds of action.
At the Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Stadium in Riydah, Ittihad defeated Al-Riyadh 2-1 to log nine points from three matches and go two points clear of second-placed Al-Nasr, who are a rung ahead of Al-Ittifaq on goal difference after the two teams finished level on seven points. Ittifaq defeated Al-Khaleej 2-1 yesterday and only stout defending at the end of the day helped them gain full points.
After Yusri Al-Basha and Saleh Bashir had struck for Ittifaq, Khaleej pulled one back through Brazilain Claudio and their later flurry for an equalizer was blunted by some fine Ittifaq defense.
Ittihad on the other hand squandered chances galore against Riyadh and after a goalless first half had to rely on a Muhammad Nur's gem of a 63rd minute header, following an Al-Sagri's crisp center, to thwart a Riyadh upset. Brazilian Chico had put Ittihad ahead with a neat conversion from a set piece and Badr Al-Dossary equalized in the 60th minute for Riyadh.
Though Ittihad were reduced to ten men with the sending off of Ahmed Kharesh after Nur's strike, the champs had enough strength and depth in their midfield and the backline to run out winners.
