JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad crushed Nagoya Grampus of Japan 6-2 for a crucial victory in AFC Champions League first-leg match at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal stadium here.
The result will ease the Ittihad’s mission in the second leg encounter, to be played in Japan on Oct. 28, with a comfortable 4-goal lead.
Sports critics are certain that Ittihad will qualify for the final. But nothing is certain until the final whistle of the second leg.
It was Muhammad Nur’s night, who scored a hat trick. Nur’s virus disabled the Japanese computer and placed them in a very difficult position for the return leg. Nagoya was reduced to 10-men as early in the 6th minute when he was given marching orders to the dressing room.
Despite the setback, it was the visitors who drew first blood at the first quarter following a header by Joshua Blake Kennedy.
Ahmad Hadeed drew level for the hosts in the 25th minute when he made no mistake from inside the penalty area.
Naoshi Nakamura silenced the Ittihad fans in the 34th minute to end the first half in their favor.
Ittihad came guns blazing after the change of ends.
This time it was Nur’s turn to draw level for Ittihad in the 66th minute following a fine header to the left of rival goalkeeper.
Nur secured the third goal for Ittihad in the 76th minute from a fine shot inside the penalty box. Luciano added the fourth goal in the 83rd minute following a penalty kick.
Thereafter the Japanese outfit surrendered the match to Ittihad allowing Nur to score the fifth goal and his third.
Amin Al-Shermeeti compelted the rout during the third minute of injury time.
