Shabab earned a place in the final of the King's Cup for Champions despite a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Al-Hilal at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on Monday. Defending champion Al-Shabab had the cushion of a 3-0 lead in the first leg match played at the same venue last week. Hence it qualified on 4-2 aggregate. On May 15, Al-Shabab will play Al-Ittihad which also paved its way to the final following a 1-0 victory over Al-Hazm in Al-Rass. Striker Naif Hazazi scored the only goal of the match few minutes from close to secure the qualification after the team had won the first leg 2-0 in Jeddah. In Riyadh, Al-Hilal, without its international striker Yasser Al-Qahtani, had to score a 4-0 win over Al-Shabab to ensure a berth in final. The only threat in the first half from Al-Shabab came when Ahmed Atif's shot hit the right post of Mohammed Al-Daeyea. Few minutes after the break, Al-Hilal dreams went with the wind as Nasser Al-Shamrani netted for Al-Shabab to put Al-Hilal under pressure. Al-Shamrani clinched the ball after an error from Al-Hilal's Mirel Radoi to face advanced goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Deayea and sent the ball to the far left side. Al-Hilal fought after the goal and created several scoring chances while Al-Shabab worked to hold onto the lead. In the 71st minute, Korean Seoul Ki Hyeon drew level after he guided Mohammed Al-Shalhoub's cross to the net of Waleed Abdullah. The goal, however, was the first for Ki Hyeon who came to Riyadh club on a loan from English's Fulham FC four months ago. A minute later, Christian Wilhelmsson revived Al-Hilal's hopes making it 2-1 after a powerful long-range shot. Substitute Fahd Al-Moubark almost scored another goal for Al-Hilal but his shot from close went wide. Al-Shabab and Al-Ittihad have met in the last year's final and Al-Shabab lifted the first ever Cup following a 3
