JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, the two heavyweights in the Saudi Professional Lague, played to a 0-0 draw at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium here yesterday. Both teams failed to collect the game’s three points and instead shared the spoils with one point apiece.
The result was more to Ittihad’s advantage, as the Jeddah-based team kept the chasing Hilal at bay in the competition.
The stadium was packed with Ittihad and Hilal fans and had to be closed hours before the game started. Ittihad was dangerous from the very first minute, Emad Miteb launching a back heel shot that the Hilal goalkeeper managed to save.
Ittihad team captain Muhammad Nur and Libyan midfield star Tariq Al-Tayeb waged their mini battle for control of the midfield. Neither side took control although Ittihad looked to have more chances than the visiting team from Riyadh. Ittihad, with 30 points, remained three points clear of Hilal (27 points) at the top of the team standings.
Al-Shabab was eight points adrift of Ittihad in third place following its 5-0 demolition of Abha that is now in danger of being relegated to the First Division with a mere four points.
Al-Wehda blasted Al-Watani 2-0 in Tabuk to jump to the sixth position with 15 points and send Al-Ahli down to seventh place. Watani, with only five points in 11th place, looked ready to pack its bags and accompany Abha to the First Division unless some minor miracle happens when they play their remaining matches.
Al- Ittifaq collected the full three points against Al-Raid after winning the match in Buraidah 2-1. Ittifaq jumped to fifth position with 17 points with Al-Raid in ninth place with nine points.
