JEDDAH, 26 January 2004 — A ten-strong Al-Hilal proved too good for Al-Wehda with a resurgent display in the second session of the King Fahd Cup Soccer League in Riyadh yesterday. After being held 1-1 at the break, Hilal struck twice to run out 3-1 winners.
In another match of the day, Al-Ahli and Al-Qadisiya drew 1-1 in Dammam. Ahli took the lead through Ibrahim Al-Suweid in the 21st minute, but their advantage was canceled out by Saleh Al-Gambhar with his 44th minute strike.
The Hilal-Wehda encounter was a sea-saw battle in the first session with both the teams trying to established midfield superiority. Wehda began on the offensive, but were pegged back by some quick counters by Hilal as both the teams went in search for an early goal.
It was Hilal who succeeded in scoring the first goal when Abdullah Al-Jamman showed fine opportunism in collecting a crisp Muhammad Al-Shalloub’s pass before striking true in the 33rd minute.
But Hilal’s joy was short-lived as Wehda restored parity within two minutes with Paulo Da Silva hit back. It was during this frenetic pace of action that Hilal lost Muhammad Al-Oneizi for handling.
The second session too proved a classic battle for midfield edge in the early part of the game. And when Hilal earned a 78th minute penalty and Senegalese Trawry banged it home, the match finally swung Hilal’s way. And when Abdullah Al-Ghamdi neatly placed the ball into the Wehda goal, following a corner kick, in injury time, Hilal’s victory was assured.
