By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – It is Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli in the final of the Crown Prince Cup after the title holder Hilal defeated Najran 2-1 at Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium Monday.
Yasser Al-Qahtani of Al-Hilal put his team in the lead and Majed Abu Yabis leveled the score for Najran. However, Al-Qahtani doubled the score for
Hilal to put the Blues in the final against Al-Ahli which had qualified Sunday after defeating Shabab 3-1 in a shootout after the teams shared four goals during the regulation and extra time.
Although Najran players knew they were facing the league champion, they pressed on their opponents during the first 15 minutes. Hilal then took the lead through its striker Al-Qahtani who received a cross from Omar Al-Ghamdi in the area in the 18th minute. Qahtani immediately kicked into the far left corner of Najran goalkeeper Jabir Al-Ameri.
Al-Ameri foiled another attempt by Qahtani in the 31st minute when the Swedish midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson sent another cross into the same area. Five minutes later, Wilhelmsson faced the goalkeeper but Ameri did his best to foil him.
Najran fought hard to equalize but the Hilal defenders and goalkeeper Hasan Al-Otaibi were at their best.
In the second half, the fast game continued and it was again Al-Qahtani who struck in the 52nd minute when he received a cross inside the six-yard area to nudge the ball into the bottom right corner of Al-Ameri.
Hilal then looked relaxed. On the other hand, Najran did not lose hope and fought spiritedly. Its players tried their level best to shake Al-Otaibi net.
Two minutes after Hilal second goal, Majed Abu Yabis free kick from outside the box found its way to the left corner of Otaibi. A few minutes later, Abu Yabis headed towards the goal but the ball hit the bar and Hilal defender saved the situation. Turki Al-Thaqafi failed to clear a ball that bounced off Otaibi in three minutes before the end of the exciting match.
The stadium was almost full by supporters of Hilal who went to see their team enter the final.
Hilal will meet Al-Ahli in the championship match on Friday at King Fahd International Stadium.
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