Booking Travel

Al Ittihad storm into semifinals of FIFA Club World Championship

December 12th, 2005

TOKYO, AFC Champions League champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia entered the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Championship with a 1-0 win over African champions Al Ahly of Egypt here on Sunday.

They will play South American champions Sao Paulo of Brazil in the semifinals on December 14.

The only goal of the keenly contested match was scored by midfielder Mohamed Noor off a Ahmed Al Doki cross after Ahly goalkeeper Essam Al Hadary failed to collect the ball cleanly in the 78th minute.

Before this, however, Anghel Iordanescu’s men came under immense pressure in the first half and struggled to impose themselves on their rivals. A poor clearance by the Saudi club’s vaunted defence almost saw Mohamed Tariki scoring in the 12th minute but the Ahly striker failed to control the ball and shot wide.

Al Ittihad goalkeeper Mabrouk Zaid was pressed into service in the 33rd minute and impressed with his excellent reflexes when Mohamed Barakat fired low. Two quick forays were executed by the Egyptian club in the next few minutes but AFC Player of the Year Hamad Al Montashari foiled both attempts.

The Asian champions’ first real chance materialised in the 37th minute when Shady Mohamed hacked down talismanic Sierra Leonian striker Mohamed Kallon just outside the box. The freekick was unleashed by Kallon himself, but straight to the goalkeeper.

Three minutes later Kallon burst through and cut to the centre with the ball at his feet but, shadowed by three Al Ahly men, the sharpshooter from Sierra Leon was stopped by a diving Al Hadary who managed to collect the ball with difficulty.

Kallon was at it again on the stroke of half-time when his downward header in a goalmouth melee was punched away by the Ahly goalkeeper.

The second half saw a rejuvenated Al Ittihad calling the shots. The tone was set by a freekick straight into the wall from Kallon in the 63rd minute as Al Ahly struggled. Ten minutes later Al Montashari released Noor on the right flank who threaded the ball to Kallon. But the chance was wasted after Al Hadary stood firm between the sticks.

Then came the winner from Noor who was left with a simple tap-in following the poor collection by the Ahly custodian. But Al Ittihad were far from finished and Manaf Aboshgir almost made it 2-0 in the 90th minute after darting clear on the left flank with no defender in sight to check him. But his weak shot was parried by the goalkeeper.

Al Ittihad won the AFC Champions League title last month for the second time in a row after defeating Al Ain of the UAE.

Bolanos goal ousts Sydney FC

Cristian Bolanos’ early second half strike helped Deportivo Saprissa oust Sydney FC 1-0 from the FIFA World Club Championship here on Monday.

Sydney FC played the last nine minutes a man short after Alvin Ceccoli was sent off by Japanese referee Kamizawa Toru for rough play against Saprissa goalkeeper Francisco Porras.

Bolanos took a long ball on his chest, controlled it and steered it past Sydney goalkeeper Clint Bolton in the 47th minute. The Australian club missed numerous chances against the experienced rivals.

The Central American champions will now play European champions Liverpool in the semifinals on Thursday in Toyota after AFC Champions League champions Al Ittihad clash against Sao Paulo in the other last four encounter in Tokyo on Wednesday.

http://www.persianfootball.com/pfdcnews20051212541425533705.htm

Entry Filed under: WorldCup2006