JEDDAH, 12 May 2004 — The King Fahd Soccer League derby between archrivals Al-Ittihad and Al Ahli nearly ended on a tragic note here yesterday with Ittihad defender Ahmad Karaish cheating death in a pulsating match that was stopped with the scores at 3-3.
Only the quick action by doctors, who used the tracheal probe to pull the tongue that Karaish had swallowed with only eight minutes left for the final whistle, saved the day. Karaish swallowed his tongue after an uncompromising landing following a collision with teammate Saud Kariri.
Karaish and Kariri jumped for a high cross in near unison and the resultant collision saw Karaish making an awkward landing. When the player failed to get up, all rushed to his assistance. Medics, trainers, police and officials rushed to the ground as the hushed crowd waited for Karaish to get up.
As time wore on, and action near the prostrate body of Karaish turning frenetic, all felt that another incident, in which Cameroonian footballer Marc Vivien Foe died after collapsing on the field during an international match against Colombia, was again being enacted in front of their eyes. Many players and fans were crying as a major tragedy seemed to be unfolding before them.
The unconscious player was taken in ambulance to King Abdul Aziz Hospital where the procedure helped revive him. He is reported to be in stable condition and improving.
Till this incident, the game was proceeding toward a thrilling finish with Ahli coming on level terms at 3-3 in the 80th minute of the game. Safwan Al-Muallad struck the equalizer to level peg the match after a stirring fight back by Ittihad.
Two goals down at the break, Ittihad struck three in the space of 17 minutes to forge 3-2 ahead. Osama Al-Muallad began Ittihad’s goal rush in the 42nd minute and Hamza Idrees struck the third in the 59th minute after Ridah Tucker had hit the second in the 54th minute.
Ahli began the match with a flourish and went up by two goals within two minutes. They went ahead through a 12th minute Rogerino penalty and Ali Al-Abdali got Ahli’s second in the 14th minute to give Ahli a unique lead against the league leaders.
