Al Ahli v Hajer pre match Review: Al Ahli is hosting Hajer in the 22 round

Saudi Arabian professional league.

Al Ahli  vs. Hajer. 16. March. 2012.

Prince Abdullah Faisal Stadium, Jeddah.

Al Ahli are favourites to take all three points when they meet Hajer on 16. March 2012 at Prince Abdullah Faisal stadium. The Jeddah club currently sit in second place in the Saudi professional league, one point behind the leaders El shabab.

Al Ahli go into this game on the back of an emphatic 4-0 away win against Ittifaq.

The Al Ahli strikers, Victor Semoes and Emad -Al Hosni are high on confidence, after both strikers claimed a brace each against Ittifaq. The match against the side form Dammam, saw Victor Semoes finally score his 17^th goal of the season., after a three month goal drought. The 17^th goal was quickly followed three minutes later by Semoes’ 18^th goal.

These long awaited goals from Semoes have catapulted the Brazilian striker above El shahbab’s Nasser as the highest scorer in the Saudi professional league.

Semoes’ striking partner Emad is also high on confidence after his sublime brace against Ittifaq. The second goal was a spectacular overhead kick and showed cased Emad as the master of this difficult discipline. Unfortunately Emad is suspended for the Ittifaq encounter, after picking up a third yellow card in the away win against Ittifaq Despite this set back, Emad currently sits in third place amongst the top scorers in the Saudi Professional League.

Confidence is high throughout Al Ahli team and it is difficult to see how Hajer can penetrate the Al Ahli midfield, let alone find a route through the solid defense, where  the commanding figure of Yasser awaits to pounce on any speculative strike.

Even if were not for the current good form of Al Ahli, Hajer’s away form paints a picture of a team who do not travel well, with just one point from their last three away games. They also leak goals regularly and currently hold the dubious honour of  having the third worst defence in the league with a -21 goal difference.

Also, Hajer have lost their previous two encounters against the team from Jeddah, failing to find the back of the net on both occasions, after losing 0-3 and 0-2 respectively.

Prediction: 2-0 Al Ahli home win

Ittifaq V Al Ahli. Emphatic 0-4 Al Ahli away win!

Prince Faisal bin fasil stadium. Durum

12. March 2012

Ittafaq V Al Ahli

This game will be remembered for two outstanding goals from Emad and the long awaited 17^th and 18^th goals for the energetic and irrepressible Al Ahli, Brazilian striker, Victor Semos. After a three month wait for his 17^th goal, Victor scores two second half goals in three minutes. These valuable three points now leaves only one point between El Shahbab and Al Ahli at the top of the Saudi Professional League.

Al Ahli began the game as strongly as they finished the game. From minute one, Ittifaq could not cope with the Al Ahli’s superior movement and strong midfield surges.

At times the game was so one sided, it almost felt like a training session, with Al Ahli keeping the ball without a single Ittifaq player making a challenge. Al Ahli continued to press a chaotic and confused Ittfaq defence and it was only a matter of time before Al Ahli capitalised on their superior possession.

The moment arrived in the 33rd minute when Al More lofted a dangerous ball into the Ittafaq area. Victor Semos then acrobatically beat two Ittafaq defenders and headed the ball square to the ever willing Emad, who’s sublime overhead kick found the back of the net. 0-1 Al Ahli.

The first half came to a close with Al Ahli in the ascendancy and Ittafaq deflated.

The second half was a mirror image of the first with Al Ahli continually  attacking and Ittafaq  continually backing off . In the 47^th minute Al Ahli’s surging runs paid dividends when Victor Semos was awarded a penalty after being pulled down by two Ittafaq defenders.

Victor dutifully dispatched the spot kick and swung away in celebration as his illusive 17^th goal finally arrived. Three minutes later Victor scored again for his 18^th goal , after a clever flick from A-missa.

Now Al Ahli were rampant and wave after wave of Al Ahli attacks continually threatened the Ittifaq goal. In the 73^rd minute, one of these relentless Al Ahli raids into Ittafaq territory, produced a well placed goal by Emad, after good work by Al More and Semos.

Ittafaq had their moments within their Argentinean striker Tagliabue catching the Al Ahli defence sleeping on couple of occasions. Other than these rare forrays into the AL Ahli area, Ittafaq offered little in the way of  constructive football and appeared to be bereft of ideas throughout the entire 90 minutes.

This emphatic away win for Al Ahli can only boost their confidence to go on and win the Saudi professional League for the first time since 1984.

Ya la ! Al Ahli  Ya la!

Al Ahli loses the Gulf Hand Ball Competition agains AL Rayyan Qatar

Al ahli 's Proffesional Hand Ball Team recieved thier silver middles after thier defeat with alrayyan qatar. the score ended 24 - 20 to al rayyan to win the final.

Al Ahli losses their first Asian Championship appearance

Al Ahli V Lekhwiya.

AFC
Group C
15:30 GMT, March 7, 2012
Al-Gharafa Stadium

Lekhwiya, the current Qatari champions, won a hard fought game against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli, with a wonder strike in the 66^th minute from their Korean midfielder, Tae Nee. Up to this point the game seemed to be destined for a 0-0 draw, with both the midfields continually jostling for possession in a fractious and physically demanding midfield lottery. Although many attacking opportunities stemmed from the midfield, they were more a product of hurried distribution and poor first touch, than well executed, organised play.

On balance however Lekhweya had the better of the midfield possession and their wing-backs were able to press forward and command both flanks. Despite this clear advantage, resolute defending from Al Ahli, especially in the form of the sturdy Saudi International, Kamil El Musa, prevented Lekhwiya from capitalising on their mid field superiority with some fine interceptions.

 Both goalkeepers also played their part in keeping the score to 0-0 with a string of spectacular saves. Although it was Al Ahli’s keeper Yasser  Al Mosailem who stole the show with a spectacular one handed penalty save in the 14^th minute from the Burkina Faso striker Moumouni Dagano.

Another amazing example of Yasser’s resolute and at times heroic goal keeping, prevented the Ivorian, Bakari Kone from putting the Qatari champions into the lead, when the powerful Ivorian found himself one on one with the Al Ahli keeper. The Ivoirian’s efforts however came to nothing, with his shot trickling just wide of the post.

Despite Lekhwiya’s superior physical strength and strong running, Al Ahli stubbornly refused to concede, despite being constantly over run in midfield.

Indeed the Jeddah club could have taken a first half lead when the dazzling Brazilian Victor Semos struck the upright with an impressive turn and volley, after a clever one-two with the overworked and under supplied Omani international, Amad el Hosni

After a frantic and relentless forty five minutes of play, the first half came to a close, with both keepers stealing the show.

The second half continued much as the first half had done, with both goalies keeping the score at 0-0 with a string of outstanding saves, such as Yasser’s spectacular and unorthodox stop from Lecyvia’s Kone , after a square ball from the Ivorian Dagano caught the Al Ahli defence off balance.

 In the Lekhviya goal, Baba Malick saved drive brilliantly in the 66^th minute after Al Alhi’s Brazilian striker, Victor Semos, struck a fierce shot. Shortly after, the Lecvia keeper was in the thick of the action again, this time saving with his legs from the on rushing Imad al Hosni.

No goalkeeper however, not even Al Ahli’s imperious Yasser el Mosailem, could prevent Nam Tae-hee’s 76^th minute wonder goal. Even the best keepers in the world would have struggled to stop the Korean’s sublime strike.

A draw would have probably been a just result. As we know, football is fickle and justice is not always seen to be done. All the same, Al Ahli can take a lot of pride in their heroic effort against a more athletic and physically powerful Lekhwiya. Hopefully in the next champions league game against the Iranian champions, Sepahan Isfahan, Al Ahli can make home advantage count and emerge with three badly needed points.

Man of the match: Yasser Al Mosailem

Ya la Al Ahli !Yala!

By Victor.S