JEDDAH, 2 June 2004 — A ten-strong Al-Ahli refound their touch in the latter part of the match as they snatched a 1-1 draw against Al-Ittihad in the Arab Champions League Group One match at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium here yesterday.
The result lifted Ahli to seven points, two behind group leaders CS Sfaxien, and two ahead of Ismaili.
The draw also squashed any lingering hopes Ittihad might have entertained of making a come back. Ahli now have better chances of advancing to the semifinals. But their match against Ismaili on June 13 will be crucial. A draw again will see them through.
With the teams settling for a defensive pattern in the early part of the match, the sporadic counterraids in this period from either side were cheered lustily. And in one such move a tough tackle by Ahli’s Emad Siddik saw him get the red card. This was in the 30th minute.
Though the Ittihad attack gained urgency, they lacked finesse and incisive attacking mode. They struck just at the stroke of the break with Muhammad Nur hitting on target in the 45th.
But Talal Al-Mishal nodded in a superb corner kick in the 76th minute to keep Ahli on level terms.
