Would have thought Ittifaj would be topping their group at this point? They need to keep playing like this because if they drop to 2nd they'll have to play Ittihad in Jeddah.
People underestimate Ittifaq I think, though I still believe they wont travel well. We'll see how long they maintain this form. So far, all Saudi Clubs are on their way to the next round.
The draw is for QF stage onwards. The round 16 is a single matchday where the first placed team in one group hosts the runner up of another (QF and SF are home and away).
Very happy to see the Itti of the east doing well. Bashir and Prince completely destroyed Shabab UAE! Now they go to Dubai for the return fixture, which as far as travelling goes is perfect. It's within driving range from Dammam, and the exams will be over by then, so they can get a lot of travelling fans. How hard is it to sell a weekend trip to Dubai to a bunch of guys? If they get a result in Dubai (draw is good enough), which they can because they counter attack well, they stand a good chance to qualify. The game after is at home against Bunyodkor, and they're going to struggle under the summer weather. Good crowd and atmosphere too. They got 12k. Sounded like Ittihad playing lol The fans were singing Ittihad songs (They might even be from the Dammam branch of the Itti fanclub). [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWpz8vSC7OY"]YouTube - Al Ettifaq-KSA 4 - 1 Al Shabab-UAE - AFC Champions League 2009[/ame]
Good job by Ittifaq! they controlled about 90% of the match, really good fighting for the ball. now they're topping the group with 6 points. if they played like this in Dubai it'll be 9.
Also good to see Al Shabab beating Sharjah 3-1. they could score more goals but the post was playing with Sharjah I think!
Al Hilal and Ittihad weren't at thier day. both had hard times. they focused on the league final round between them!
btw 3 Saudi teams are topping the groups! and Al Hilal is the 2nd in thiers. so i can say Saudi Arabia is the best performer in west Asia.
the tournament format says last 16 stage will be played between 1st and 2nd of other group on regional basis. last 8 will be a draw of the remaining teams who won there respective mathces in last 16 where no 2 teams of same country can battle each other after 1 leg mathces are over all saudi teams are strong contenders for finishing first or second. but for ittifaq it can be tough if the donot beat shabab uae in away match coz they will hve one very sever away match in iran.buyondikor will be easily beaten.if ittifaq wins next match then they need only 1 win at home to buyondikor. as for ittihad and shabab they need 4 points more to qualify. hilal will have a pretty tough time coz they will be playing 2 away and 1 home and needs maximum 7 points to clear group.if any lose they will be in serious situation..
Al Hilal will do it I'm sure of it! and for Ettifaq, they're probably are focusing at the ACL this year.
It's not so much that I underestimate Ittifag -- I just overestimated Sepahan and Budyonkor given that they were the ones who knocked out Ittihad last season. Before the draw was made (and before Ittifag loaned out Majed Al-Amri) I had high hopes for them in ACL.
ittifaq on a very important match today..if they win we can see all saudi teams passing group stage. shabab and ittihad will crush hilal no guarentee as usual..
With all respect to those two teams, it had more to do with Ittihad's problems at the time than anything. All the best to Ittifaq tonight, and Shabab too.
Great results! The Prince - Bashir combo is killing it. But none of our teams have qualified yet, so let's not get cocky.
Ettifaq just need 1 pt from 2 games to qualify for the round of 16 ... but if they want to avoid Ittihad in Jeddah, they need to beat Bunyodkor at home, or get a draw and beat Sepahan away. Shabab still have some work to do. Pirouzi is still a big threat at the Azadi, and you can't count out Paqueta's team if they keep playing like this.
we have two big games today ittihad can win but hilal can do something ... you are wrong saif..ittifaq can either meet team from group a or b ittihad tooo can meet either team from group A or B.. check goalzz.com
saudi teams need to finish first to avoid each other and with only 3 teams on course of doing so..today any other result for hilal it will be diffucult for them... BTW- HAS NAIF HAZAZI got offer from any german club..