https://arab.news/v63a2
- As derbies often are, this was a high-paced, frenetic affair but there was a little quality missing in the final balls
JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Ahli 1-0 on Thursday in a tightly-contested Jeddah Derby that put the victors level on points with Al-Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) and leaves the losers languishing in mid-table.
Saleh Al-Shehri reminded returning Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard of his attacking instincts by grabbing the only goal of the game before the break. Al Ahli came back into it in the second half but could not get back on level terms. Coach Matthias Jiassle will be hoping that the effort will be enough to keep his job as the Greens now have just 11 points from nine games.
In a league that produces some of the best fan tifos around, there was another special one as the teams took the King Abdullah Sports City pitch. Al-Ittihad came up with a colourful clenched fist directed at the big bloc of fans in green. The home fans were entitled to be confident as their team was coming off ten wins from the last 11 games.
Even without their star striker Karim Benzema, who has picked up a hamstring injury, the Tigers made most of the early running and there were some nerves for Al-Ahli early on when Houssam Aouar went down in the area but, despite a VAR check, the game continued. Soon after Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, deputising for the injured Edouard Mendy, had to get down well to clear more danger from the left.
As derbies often are, this was a high-paced, frenetic affair but there was a little quality missing in the final balls. Then, four minutes before the break, Ittihad broke the deadlock with a simple but effectively worked goal.
Ahli had just had a penalty review refused when a long ball from goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic found Moussa Diaby free on the right. The French winger waited inside the area, twisting and turning, before getting to the byline and pulling it back to Al-Shehri who had drifted intelligently into space on the edge of the six-yard box and the Saudi Arabia international striker side footed home to give the yellow and blacks a deserved lead.
One almost became two within minutes. Al-Shehri’s backheel inside the area gave Muhannad Al-Shantiqi a chance to pick his spot but his low shot was deflected onto the post. From the resultant corner, Ittihad again hit the woodwork as Abdulelah Al-Amri headed powerfully against the underside of the bar. Al-Ahli were more relieved to hear the half-time whistle than their neighbours.
The second half was a big one for Al-Ahli and it started with Saad Yaslam forcing a good save from Rajkovic. And then they had their best chance. Ivan Toney latched on to a ball from deep, went past Rajkovic on the edge of the area and the England striker's low shot looked destined for goal until Al-Amri sprinted back and somehow slid at the near post to put the ball behind. It was a heroic block.
He couldn’t do anything about what seemed to be a 59th minute equaliser. A free-kick from deep led to some ping-pong inside the area and the ball eventually fell to Franck Kessie who steered home from just outside the six-yard box. After a lengthy video review it was ruled out for the tightest of offside decisions.
Al-Ahli kept coming and Kessie shot from outside the area and looked to be bound for the bottom corner only for Rajkovic to get down well to make a big save. Ittihad were just about hanging on though Diaby hit the post in the 101st minute when through on goal after sprinting from inside his own half.
In the end it was a spirited second-half performance from Al-Ahli but they are stuck in mid-table while Al-Ittihad are still challenging at the top. Now attention turns to the Riyadh Derby to see what Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, first and third, produce.