JEDDAH, 10 April 2008 — Al-Hilal delayed the crowning of Al-Ittihad Jeddah as Saudi Football League champions with a goalless draw against Al-Shabab yesterday in Riyadh.
Ittihad were hoping for a Shabab victory that would have handed them the league crown. Instead, Ittihad face Hilal in an all-important clash on Sunday.
The match brings the long season to a fitting climax when two of the country’s top teams go head-to-head for the championship crown. Defending champions Ittihad will have the advantage of a home crowd against Hilal. Also, a draw will be enough for the clincher.
Al-Hilal, with 45 points to Ittihad’s 48, on the other hand, will not settle for anything less than a win. A Hilal victory by any margin would put the sides equal on 48 points but Hilal will emerge the champions by virtue of the head-to-head matches tiebreaking system to be applied instead of the goal difference. Ittihad and Hilal drew 0-0 in Riyadh.
Most of the first half battle was confined to the middle of the field with a slight advantage to Shabab. Shabab forward Faisal Al-Sultan blew away an easy goal when he shot wide from a vertical ground pass off the foot of Brazilian midfielder that placed him a few feet away of Hilali goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Daea.
Al-Hilal only had two serious attempts to score via forward Ahmed Al-Firadi who shot wide on the target both times.
Rain poured heavily in the second half slowing down the pace of the game.
In the 58th minute the referee deprived Shabab a potential goal after ruling offside on Al-Shabab forward Faisal Al-Sultan. TV replays showed the player was not offside.
