Al-Ittihad maintained its lead with 16 points in the Saudi Premier League after it downed its home rival Al-Ahli, 2-1, on Friday. With about 1500 security guards to monitor the game at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad came out with a calm match and reflected the sporting spirits that enveloped the derby match. Moroccan striker Hisham Bou Sharwan opened the scoring for Al-Ittihad in the first half but Al-Ahli's Mutaz Al-Mosa drew level the game after the break. Egyptian Emad Mete'b scored in the dying time to seal the win of Al-Ittihad. The win put Al-Ittihad on 16 points to lead the league, followed by Al-Nasr (11). Al-Hilal is in third place (10) while Al-Ahli stayed seventh spot with only eight points. Besides the win, Al-Ittihad kept its unbeaten run in the Saudi League winning five games and drawing one against Al-Nasr in the third week of the league. Despite the defeat, Al-Ahli was the better side in the match especially in the second half as the team created a lot of scoring chances. The match kicked off with the two teams keen on possession. Mohammed Noor had the first attempt when he shot the ball from outside the box but Al-Ahli goalkeeper Yasser Al-Musailem conceded a corner. Al-Ahli responded through Bandar Al-Kharashi in the 37th who drove toward Al-Ittihad's box but his shot from close was saved by Mabruk Zaid. In the 38th minute, Bou Sharwan suddenly blasted the ball from outside the box to hit the left net of Al-Ahli. Al-Ahli which missed ace striker Malek Al-Hawsawi changed its strategies after the break. In the 57th minute, Hassan Al-Raheb sent a cross to an unmarked Mutaz Al-Mosa who completed the move by shooting to the left side of Al-Ittihad goalkeeper. Three minutes after the goal, the cross-bar denied Al-Ahli's Brazilian midfielder Harrison off a free kick. Al-Ahli continued to attack but Al-Ittihad resisted and Mete'b sealed the win with a 93rd-minute goal. The match was managed by Italian referees who will also officiate Riyadh derby on Saturday between Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr. In another match of the league, Al-Wehdah came from behind to beat Al-Raed 3-1 at the King Abdul Aziz Sports City in Makkah. In Najran, Al-Hassan Al-yami scored a brace to help Najran in its 2-1 win over Al-Hazm. __
