JEDDAH — Host Jeddah Sports Club (JSC) and Sporting United are poised for a grand double in the second Friendship Cup Football Tournament, organized by JSC Soccer Academy. The teams have booked their berths in the finals of Under-14 and Under-17 categories. The finals will be played at the Dunk Ground near IKEA show room, Tahliya Road, from 9 p.m. Friday. In the Under-14 semis, Sporting United came from behind to beat a fighting Al-Wurood International School 3-1, while JSC celebrated a 4-2 victory over Mahd Al-Uloom International School. Mehzin scored a brilliant hat trick for JSC. Al-Wurood International School took the lead against Sporting in the fourth minute through a solo by Ayoob. It soon squandered an open chance to increase the lead. Sporting stormed back into the game with a goal by midfieder Shadin at the tick of half time. Then it ran all over Al-Wurood in the second session. It attacked relentlessly against a tired lot. Rizwan (41st minute) and BaMaharoof (55) scored goals to underline their supremacy. BaMaharoof was adjudged Man of the Match. JSC dominated Al-Uloom with slick passes. Mehzin opened the scoring in the 7th minute. He struck again in the 43rd and completed the hat trick with a brilliant shot from a tight angle. Al-Uloom regained its form in the second half and scored through a penalty by Shanavas. But another penalty at the other end, converted by captain Hashid Abdul Rahman, sealed the game for JSC. Haneefa scored the second goal for the loser. In the Under-17 section, JSC and Sporting United took first two positions in the group stage and they will fight it out in the final playoff to decide the winner. — SG
