JEDDAH, 27 December 2004 — After a 35-day break to give way to the 17th Gulf Cup, the King Fahd Cup soccer tournament resumes today with the start of the second round.
Al-Ansar of Madinah will host Al-Hilal of Riyadh in today’s lone fixture pitting teams on both ends of the table.
The second-ranked Hilal are gunning for a win in a bid to overtake idle leaders Al-Shabab. Ansar are looking for a way out of the cellar despite the formidable odds.
A twinbill is on the cards Friday.
Al-Ahli of Jeddah take on Al-Wahda of Makkah here in Jeddah and Al-Ohud of Madinah host Al-Taie of Hail. All 12 teams entered will be looking to try and win as many matches as possible and gather the points needed to enter the semifinals.
The bottom teams will also be fighting against relegation to the first league.
Shabab lead the Premier League standings with 21 points. Hilal are second with 20 points with Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli and Al-Nasr tied in third, fourth and fifth places with 18 points each.
Al-Taie are sixth with 16 points, Al-Qadisiya seventh with 14 points, Riyadh, Al-Wahda and Ansar tied in eighth, ninth and 10th positions with 12 points each. Al-Ittifaq occupy the 11th spot with 8 points and Al-Ohud 12th and last with 5 points.
Meanwhile, Ittihad club of Jeddah beat Entente Setif of Algeria 2-0 in the Arab Champions League in Cairo yesterday. Ittihad were in control for the most part of the game. Manaf Abu Shgeer scored Ittihad’s first goal from a free kick in the 45th minute of the first half and Al-Hassan Al-Yami added another in the 77th minute from a corner kick.
