MEF - JEDDAH, August 10: Both Al-Ahly of Jeddah and Syria
national team progressed to the semi-finals stage of the Abha Invitational
Tournament held in southern Arabia, the hosts being held to a 1-1 draw by
Iranian giants Esteghlal while Syria dismissed Aseer outfits 2-0.
Al-Ahly started the game needing only a draw to move to the semis, but
waited till the 67th minute to break the deadlock, Fahad Al-Zahrani scored
from a flashing drive following a neat lay-off with Fawzi Al-Shehhari.
The hosts’ opening goal came against the run of play, as the Iranian side
dictated the game to them after the interval, the first-half ending
scoreless with nothing to cheer for the 17,000 local crowd.
Iranian striker Fairooz Mohammadi brought the best off Saudi keeper Ahmed
Al-Najayi, four minutes after the break, his well-curled effort was
instinctively parried away to safety by the valiant keeper, before Mohammadi
himself saw his brilliant drive from just outside the 18-yard box screaming
inches off the right post.
Al-Ahly gained control of the game after taking the surprising 1-0 lead,
also had the luxury of missing from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute,
newly-recruited Bahrain international full-back Mohamed Hussein driving the
ball in the keeper’s body, before Ali Mousavi notched the equalizer in
stoppage time after connecting with a pin-pointed cross from the lively
Mohammadi, as both sides shared the spoils 1-1.