Al-Ahly Jeddah held by Iran’s Esteghlal, still march on to semis

MEF - JEDDAH, August 10: Both Al-Ahly of Jeddah and Syria national team progressed to the semi-finals stage of the Abha Invitational Tournament held in southern Arabia, the hosts being held to a 1-1 draw by Iranian giants Esteghlal while Syria dismissed Aseer outfits 2-0.

Al-Ahly started the game needing only a draw to move to the semis, but waited till the 67th minute to break the deadlock, Fahad Al-Zahrani scored from a flashing drive following a neat lay-off with Fawzi Al-Shehhari.

The hosts’ opening goal came against the run of play, as the Iranian side dictated the game to them after the interval, the first-half ending scoreless with nothing to cheer for the 17,000 local crowd.

Iranian striker Fairooz Mohammadi brought the best off Saudi keeper Ahmed Al-Najayi, four minutes after the break, his well-curled effort was instinctively parried away to safety by the valiant keeper, before Mohammadi himself saw his brilliant drive from just outside the 18-yard box screaming inches off the right post.

Al-Ahly gained control of the game after taking the surprising 1-0 lead, also had the luxury of missing from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute, newly-recruited Bahrain international full-back Mohamed Hussein driving the ball in the keeper’s body, before Ali Mousavi notched the equalizer in stoppage time after connecting with a pin-pointed cross from the lively Mohammadi, as both sides shared the spoils 1-1.