Wednesday 14 March 2012

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 17th goal of the season., after a three month goal drought. The 17th goal was quickly followed three minutes later by Semoes’ 18th 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

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