Ya! Ittihad has kicked Hilal's ass at last minute of the match 2-1. Nice match.
Saudi:The Final Showdown: Ittihad vs. Hilal
JEDDAH, 1 June 2007
This is the match everyone wanted to enjoy be it in front of TV screens in the comfort of their living rooms or live at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. Any which way, it will be satisfaction guaranteed as the giants of Saudi football, Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, do battle in the King’s Cup final today.
This will be the 10th in the history of league final matches that featured both teams. Hilal hold the upper hand over Ittihad in the final matches with six wins over Ittihad against three for Ittihad against Hilal.
Crown Prince Sultan is expected to attend the final match and award the cup to the winners.
Hilal topped the Saudi Football League standings with 53 points from 17 wins, three loses and two draws. As a result, Hilal became the No. 1 and the waiting finalist in the stepladder matches. Ittihad, on the other hand, finished second with 48 points from 15 wins, three draws and four loses. Last week, Ittihad eliminated Wehda in the second stepladder match with thrilling 3-2 extra time victory.
In a very tough match two players from Wehda were red carded and one Ittihad player went down with injury. Against a well-rested Hilal side, the battle-weary Ittihad will try to use every available weapon in their arsenal though questions remain whether they would be able to keep pace with their rivals for another grueling battle.
Ittihad were the first to win against Hilal in the King’s Cup in 1997 after winning the final in Jeddah 2-0. In 2002, both teams met again in the same competition this time in Riyadh. The match ended 2-1 for Hilal with a controversial decision by the referee Dhafer Abu Zanda who denied Ittihad a penalty kick and an equalizer after Hilal defender Al-Nazhan took the ball from inside the goal with his hand and the referee did not award Ittihad a penalty kick instead gave a red card to an Ittihad defender Basem Al-Yami. For Ittihad and Hilal this is the final chance to save a winless season.
Hilal are used to winning at least one championship every year. They are now facing a serious threat of exiting the season empty handed.
Another dilemma confronting Hilal is that they will have difficulty explaining to fans how a team that emerged No. 1 all season long could lose the final match.
Still smarting from losses in the two finals against rival Jeddah- based Ahli club 3-0 in Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Cup and 2-1 in Crown Prince Cup Ittihad are under extreme pressure from fans to deliver the most prestigious cup of the season and avoid the stigma of going 0-for-three in the finals.
Either team would move heaven and earth in this high stakes match if only to address the misgivings of their loyal fans.
Both teams are expected to not rush into fast attacks and try hard to plug the gaps leading to their half side of the field for sure control the midfield.
Hilal are better experienced playing in final matches than Ittihad especially with two veterans the likes of goalkeeper Muhammad Al-Daie and former national team captain and Hilal striker the experienced Sami Al-Jaber.
Here’s a thumbnail sketch of the teams:
In the goalkeeping positions Al-Daie has the edge over his Ittihad counterpart Tayseer Al-Nteef. Al-Nteef has had bad experiences with former team Ahli especially in the famous final match between Ittihad and Ahli in Riyadh, which ended in favor of Ittihad 3-2. Ahli fans and sport critics blamed Al-Nteef for the three goals. The goalkeeper has a very good reputation for panicking in the final match.
In the defense line, Ittihad are the wise bets over Hilal with Hamad Al-Muntasheri, Reda Tukar, Osama Al-Muwallad, Saleh Al-Sagri and Ahmad Al-Essa. The Ittihad right side defender Ahmad Al-Dokhi received his second yellow card against Wehda and as a result he will miss the final match. Ittihad’s defense line is better experienced and organized than Hilal’s, and there is a great chemistry between Ittihad players. The Hilal defense line is good but not as experienced as Ittihad with two players, Tafarees and Fahd Al-Mufarrej, in the heart of Hilal defense line. Tafarees is known for his rough defense tactics and it could result in dangerous fouls and risk of getting the yellow and red cards. Al-Mufarrej keeps focused during a match but he lacks speed and is poor at clearing high balls despite his height. Hilal will have a headache guarding the fast Al-Hassan Kita.
In the midfield their strengths are just about equal and that would add extra excitement to the game because it is difficult to determine who would control the midfield. Hilal have good midfield players and the most dangerous one is Muhammad Al-Shalhoub. He will add extra power especially with the Libyan international Tareq Al-Tayeb playing next to Al-Shalhoub. Moreover, there are two midfielders who play strong defense in Omar Al-Ghamdi and Khaled Aziz. They are equal match to Ittihad midfield with star midfielder Muhammad Nur who has great attacking powers and excellent solo maneuvers. Nur is experienced in executing free kicks outside the penalty box and supporting the striking line. Manaf Abu Shgeer, Ibraheem Suwaeed and Vagnar are also excellent midfielders with attacking sense and they will be a great support to the attacking line.
In the striking line, both teams are equal in power featuring national team striker Yaser Al-Qahtani for Hilal and Al-Hassan Kita for Ittihad side. The Sniper Al-Qahtani is excellent in handling the football inside the penalty box and also dangerous in air balls. He is a difficult striker to guard yet expert in solo attacks and in launching surprising rockets from outside the penalty box. Kita is very dangerous for Ittihad if given the space to run. Kita, however, lacks the finishing touch once he has the ball inside the penalty box sometimes and his shots either get blocked or find their way outside the Hilal net.
The fans also have their take about the final match. According to Saleh Hammadi, sport writer at Asharq Alawsat daily and sport critic at ART sports channel, Hilal are more likely to win due to the stability of the team players and administration. With Brazilian coach Paqueta, he said, they won their four previous local finals and this made them more confident to meet their rivals. On the other hand, Ittihad, who are under the supervision of Belgian coach Demetri, lost their last recent finals and are a bit shaken. Given that winning this game is crucial especially to Mansour Al-Balawi, president of Ittihad club. Hammadi added, the finals, however, spring unexpected changes and no one can expect anything. “This game is an important local final for both team and as a football critic I wish both teams the best, yet if I had to choose I’d say Hilal will win,” he said.
Saud Al-Otaibi, Hilal fan, said that Ittihad will suffer against Hilal and they will suffer their defeat in the final against Hilal. “We will make Ittihad the best second place team in 2007,” he said. He added, “Hilal never lose in front of home crowd. I am more confident that not only we would win the final, but also we will score more goals and make this match a memory for Ittihad that they will never forget. The title should be ours because the numbers say them. We led the Saudi league for half the season and the natural result is that we would win. I feel sorry for Ittihad already and I wish if they had the option to withdraw from the final, but I think that we must give it to them.”
From the Ittihad side, Muhsin Al-Shebani, an Ittihad fan who will travel to Riyadh to attend the final, said that Ittihad will secure the title and that the King’s Cup is in Riyadh temporarily because of the venue of the final match but it is coming back to Jeddah after the match. He said, “Ittihad will secure the match and will erase the bad image of this season after losing the last two titles against Ahli. The spirits of our players are higher than ever. Hilal will not give up the match for Ittihad and Ittihad will not give it up for Hilal. Whoever is going to win will take the title over the nose of the other team.”
He said that Ittihad are looking forward to win and to play in the AFC Champions League next season. He said that the key to winning this title is in the 11 Ittihad jerseys and not in one player. He said that it is essential that the Ittihad coach will play in the right format against Hilal and terminate Al-Qahtani’s movement. “Hamad Al-Muntasheri will place Al-Qahtani in a box and make his match the worst match this year. Lastly, I want to say to Ittihad fans that we never lost a final match at King Fahd International Stadium, so what made them think that they would win this one?”
Inshallah the cup for Al-Hilal :banana:
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^^ easy there 
Ittihad Tigers Claw Back to Win in Style
Ittihad Tigers Claw Back to Win in Style
Mahmoud Ahmad, Arab News
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Al-Ittihad’s Osama Al-Muwallad, left, tries to keep pace with Al-Hilal striker Yasser Al-Qahtani during the King’s Cup final match in Riyadh on Friday. (AN photo by Ali Al-Arefi)
JEDDAH, 2 June 2007 — Al-Ittihad made up for the heartbreak of twin losses in finals this season to Al-Ahli with a display that was full of heart in the King’s Cup final at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh yesterday. Down by a first-half stunner, the Ittihadis made most of the running in the second to first pull back the deficit and then smash the winner in injury time (94th minute) to leave the Hilalis and their fans deflated and dejected.
With their 2-1 success they also kept up an Ittihad fan’s optimistic evaluation that Ittihad have always done well at King Fahd International Stadium. He had told Arab News that this fact itself should make Hilal beware. “I don’t know why Hilal thinks that Ittihad will lose in Riyadh? Our past records should make them wary.” And yesterday his assertion rang true with the stadium still remaining a favorite hunting ground for the Ittihad club and any final at this stadium in which they have contested has ended in their favor.
Ittihad fans, after the twin disappointments, made a beeline for Riyadh to attend the final. And the belief in their team was unshaken as the Jeddah Tigers awoke to a courageous display to bring back the smile on their faces. Ittihad fans left early for Riyadh by buses and airplanes to attend the match and they too had a part in the stupendous success as they lustily cheered Ittihad throughout the match, even when the chips were down. And they and all who witnessed the match will remember it for a very long time. Two stunning goals, rip-roaring action and some splendid plays all added up to make the final momentous.
The victory was all the more sweet for Ittihad, for not only did they secure the prestigious King’s Cup, but they also avenged the two defeats suffered at the hands of Hilal during the early part of the tournament. On both occasions they lost 2-1.
It was also a match of coaches — Marcos Paqueta of Hilal, who secured all the season titles for Hilal two years ago, and Dimitri Davidovic of Ittihad, who helped his team secure all the titles in 1997 and in 1999 — and their contrasting styles. Paqueta’s swarming tactics came up against the slow buildups and passes of Dimitri and foundered yesterday.
Hilal launched early attacks in a bid to rack up the numbers and in less than five minutes, Hilal won two corner kicks and was taking control of the midfield. Ittihad goalkeeper Tayseer Al-Nteef faced the real test in the 15th minute when Yaser Al-Qahtani worked his way inside the penalty box and gave a nice back pass to Abdul Aziz Al-Khathran with Tayseer only to beat. But Al-Khathran shot the ball recklessly over the top.
Hilal continued to pressurize Ittihad, who were slowly getting into their strides. Just when they were moving well into Hilal territory, they were stunned by a superb goal. In the 25th minute Hilal were put ahead by Omar Al-Ghamdi. Tareq Al-Tayeb relayed a nice pass to Al-Ghamdi, who was given space by some loose defending just outside the box. Al-Ghamdi blasted a sizzler through a corridor toward the near upright as the Ittihad defenders watched in disbelief the ball sailing over an outstretched Tayseer and lodging itself into the net. Tayseer too was at fault for being well up. This ignited the stadium and also sparked a frenzy of attacks on the field. It was Ittihad who were on the ascendancy.
Star striker Muhammad Nur came close in the 33rd minute when his header off a free kick went dangerously over the bar. In the 45th minute, Nur’s defense splitting pass, again following a set piece strike, went abegging.
In the second half, Dimitri made a change that brought about the change in Ittihad’s fortunes. Experienced Hamza Idrees was sent in to activate the striking line and his role as a warhead proved explosive. Ittihad were better organized in the half and took control over the midfield and forced Hilal to rely on fast counters. In the 54th minute, a nice pass was flubbed by Hassan Keta and Brazilian Wagnar with both hesitating thinking the other was on it allowing the danger to be cleared by Hilal defenders. Nur, two minutes later, put Saud Kariri in with a chance to score as he put him clear inside the box with a crisp pass. But Kariri delayed and was swarmed out by Hilal defenders.
In the 70th minute, Hilal received a hard hit with Al-Qahtani exiting the match with a back injury and this weakened Hilal and allowed Ittihad total control over the match. Ittihad patiently wore down Hilal with some incisive passing and sustained pressure. Ittihad equalized in the 75th minute when Saleh Al-Sagri’s cross inside the box was missed by Idrees, who tried to redirect the ball goalward. The ball sailed over Idrees and the clutch of defenders to an unguarded Osama Al-Muwallad, whose volley from a narrow angle whizzed past Hilal goalkeeper Muhammad Al-Daeya like a bullet.
Ittihad, back in the match, continued to string waves of attack after the equalizer and the sudden switch in the mode and direction of the attacks left Hilal defenders totally disorganized and disoriented.
The tempo of the game picked up as the final whistle neared, and Ittihad saw to it that the match did not go into extra time when they nailed Hilal in the fourth minute of the added time. Keta gave a nice high cross inside the penalty box and defender Hamad Al-Muntasheri rose above a line of defenders to head the ball home. In the end, Hilal defense’s poor marking and poor anticipation of the aerial mode of play was completely capitalized by Dimitri and his boys.
Crown Prince Sultan awarded Ittihad the gold medals and the trophy while the 2007 season will be known as the worst season for Hilal.
Prince Muhammad ibn Faisal said after the match that he will step down as Hilal president. Mansour Al-Balawi, Ittihad president, congratulated Ittihad players and fans and said, “It is a time for celebration.”
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=8§ion=0&article=96962&d=2&m=6&y=2007
Ittihad Tigers Claw Back to Win in Style
Mahmoud Ahmad, Arab News
Al-Ittihad’s Osama Al-Muwallad, left, tries to keep pace with Al-Hilal striker Yasser Al-Qahtani during the King’s Cup final match in Riyadh on Friday. (AN photo by Ali Al-Arefi)
JEDDAH, 2 June 2007 — Al-Ittihad made up for the heartbreak of twin losses in finals this season to Al-Ahli with a display that was full of heart in the King’s Cup final at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh yesterday. Down by a first-half stunner, the Ittihadis made most of the running in the second to first pull back the deficit and then smash the winner in injury time (94th minute) to leave the Hilalis and their fans deflated and dejected.
With their 2-1 success they also kept up an Ittihad fan’s optimistic evaluation that Ittihad have always done well at King Fahd International Stadium. He had told Arab News that this fact itself should make Hilal beware. “I don’t know why Hilal thinks that Ittihad will lose in Riyadh? Our past records should make them wary.” And yesterday his assertion rang true with the stadium still remaining a favorite hunting ground for the Ittihad club and any final at this stadium in which they have contested has ended in their favor.
Ittihad fans, after the twin disappointments, made a beeline for Riyadh to attend the final. And the belief in their team was unshaken as the Jeddah Tigers awoke to a courageous display to bring back the smile on their faces. Ittihad fans left early for Riyadh by buses and airplanes to attend the match and they too had a part in the stupendous success as they lustily cheered Ittihad throughout the match, even when the chips were down. And they and all who witnessed the match will remember it for a very long time. Two stunning goals, rip-roaring action and some splendid plays all added up to make the final momentous.
The victory was all the more sweet for Ittihad, for not only did they secure the prestigious King’s Cup, but they also avenged the two defeats suffered at the hands of Hilal during the early part of the tournament. On both occasions they lost 2-1.
It was also a match of coaches — Marcos Paqueta of Hilal, who secured all the season titles for Hilal two years ago, and Dimitri Davidovic of Ittihad, who helped his team secure all the titles in 1997 and in 1999 — and their contrasting styles. Paqueta’s swarming tactics came up against the slow buildups and passes of Dimitri and foundered yesterday.
Hilal launched early attacks in a bid to rack up the numbers and in less than five minutes, Hilal won two corner kicks and was taking control of the midfield. Ittihad goalkeeper Tayseer Al-Nteef faced the real test in the 15th minute when Yaser Al-Qahtani worked his way inside the penalty box and gave a nice back pass to Abdul Aziz Al-Khathran with Tayseer only to beat. But Al-Khathran shot the ball recklessly over the top.
Hilal continued to pressurize Ittihad, who were slowly getting into their strides. Just when they were moving well into Hilal territory, they were stunned by a superb goal. In the 25th minute Hilal were put ahead by Omar Al-Ghamdi. Tareq Al-Tayeb relayed a nice pass to Al-Ghamdi, who was given space by some loose defending just outside the box. Al-Ghamdi blasted a sizzler through a corridor toward the near upright as the Ittihad defenders watched in disbelief the ball sailing over an outstretched Tayseer and lodging itself into the net. Tayseer too was at fault for being well up. This ignited the stadium and also sparked a frenzy of attacks on the field. It was Ittihad who were on the ascendancy.
Star striker Muhammad Nur came close in the 33rd minute when his header off a free kick went dangerously over the bar. In the 45th minute, Nur’s defense splitting pass, again following a set piece strike, went abegging.
In the second half, Dimitri made a change that brought about the change in Ittihad’s fortunes. Experienced Hamza Idrees was sent in to activate the striking line and his role as a warhead proved explosive. Ittihad were better organized in the half and took control over the midfield and forced Hilal to rely on fast counters. In the 54th minute, a nice pass was flubbed by Hassan Keta and Brazilian Wagnar with both hesitating thinking the other was on it allowing the danger to be cleared by Hilal defenders. Nur, two minutes later, put Saud Kariri in with a chance to score as he put him clear inside the box with a crisp pass. But Kariri delayed and was swarmed out by Hilal defenders.
In the 70th minute, Hilal received a hard hit with Al-Qahtani exiting the match with a back injury and this weakened Hilal and allowed Ittihad total control over the match. Ittihad patiently wore down Hilal with some incisive passing and sustained pressure. Ittihad equalized in the 75th minute when Saleh Al-Sagri’s cross inside the box was missed by Idrees, who tried to redirect the ball goalward. The ball sailed over Idrees and the clutch of defenders to an unguarded Osama Al-Muwallad, whose volley from a narrow angle whizzed past Hilal goalkeeper Muhammad Al-Daeya like a bullet.
Ittihad, back in the match, continued to string waves of attack after the equalizer and the sudden switch in the mode and direction of the attacks left Hilal defenders totally disorganized and disoriented.
The tempo of the game picked up as the final whistle neared, and Ittihad saw to it that the match did not go into extra time when they nailed Hilal in the fourth minute of the added time. Keta gave a nice high cross inside the penalty box and defender Hamad Al-Muntasheri rose above a line of defenders to head the ball home. In the end, Hilal defense’s poor marking and poor anticipation of the aerial mode of play was completely capitalized by Dimitri and his boys.
Crown Prince Sultan awarded Ittihad the gold medals and the trophy while the 2007 season will be known as the worst season for Hilal.
Prince Muhammad ibn Faisal said after the match that he will step down as Hilal president. Mansour Al-Balawi, Ittihad president, congratulated Ittihad players and fans and said, “It is a time for celebration.”
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=8§ion=0&article=96962&d=2&m=6&y=2007
Osama Al-Molad Goal
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Al-Hilal Goal
Goal - 1 Omar Al-Ghamdi
http://media.alzaeem.net/video/hilal/06-07/S-06-07-FinaL-A5-Hilal1-0Ittihad.mpg
Save as
Or click on to download http://www.mediafire.com/?12jmllmqjm9
Al-Ittihad Goals
Goal - 1 click on to download http://www.mediafire.com/?2xrxg14txi9
Goal - 2 click on to download http://www.mediafire.com/?0neykpc5310
Goal - 2
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Video Clip for Al-Ittihad from ART TV
Click on : http://www.mediafire.com/?4ck3xlndi31
10
^^
LOL
wallah ya ant mt3a9ab like every Hilali Viva Ittihad
LOL wallah ya ant mt3a9ab like every Hilali
Viva Ittihad
Who is the admin ?! hno:
I hate you Admin :down: , this is apartheid :bash:
I saw many Thread in Middle East & Africa like my Thread :bash:
hno: I hate you Admin :down: , this is apartheid :bash:
I saw many Thread in Middle East & Africa like my Thread :bash:
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