By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDAH – Al-Ittihad beat its host Al-Wehdah 3-1 in a round 17 match of the Zain Saudi Professional League at the King Abdul Aziz Sports City Stadium Thursday.
On a night when the visiting teams were on the roll, Al-Nasr also beat its host Najran 3-2 at Al-Okhdoud Club Stadium, while Al-Ittifaq beat its host Al-Hazm 2-0 at Al-Hazm Club Stadium.
Sultan Al-Numari put Ittihad in the lead, while defender Ridha Takar doubled the lead before Moroccan midfielder Hisham Aboucherouane put the result beyond doubt with the third goal. The host team’s lone goal came through Moroccan Yousof Kaddioui from the spot.
Although playing without three stars - Omani Ahmed Hadeed and Osama Al-Muallad (both suspended) and Mohammed Noor (death in family) - Ittihad coach put forward a balanced side which managed to change its fortunes.
On the other hand, although Al-Wehdah started well, its deadly mistakes in the defense helped Ittihad win the match.
Striker Al-Numari scored the first for Ittihad in the 56th minute when he made the most of Wehdah defender Sulaiman Ameedo’s blunder.
An unmarked Ittihad defender Ridha Takar succeeded in doubling the score when he headed Aboucherouane’s corner kick into the goal six minutes later.
In the 76th minute, Wehdah players Al-Marqeb and defender Majed Bilal bungled again when they left the ball for the other, but this time it was Aboucherouane who gave it a push to Talal Al-Misha’al who kicked it back to him to put it into the goal.
Two minutes later, Ittihad’s Saud Kariri brought down Faisal Al-Dosary of Wehdah in the area and referee Abdurrahman pointed to the spot. Kaddioui put the ball in the left side of the net.
With one match in hand, Ittihad remains third on the standings with 32 points. Al-Wehdah is fifth on 23 points but has two matches in hand.
Nasr is fourth with 27 points and two matches in hand. Najran sits at the bottom of the table with only seven points.
Ittifaq is seventh with 19 points and one match in hand, while Al-Hazm is ninth with 16 points and two matches in hand.
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