After a couple of uncertain developments in the past two weeks, Jeddah's two clubs Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli face a pivotal stage in their AFC Champions League matches on Wednesday. The two-time winner Al-Ittihad has a tough task when it hosts Sepahan of Iran in Group A at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah. Al-Ittihad will be looking for revenge as it lost the first-leg encounter 2-1 in Tehran. The win will boost the Jeddah side as it stays second with six points behind Kuruvchi of Uzbekistan with a two-goal difference. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli will be aiming to keep its hopes alive in the competition as the team plays Al-Wehda of United Arab Emirates in Abu-Dhabi. The result of this match would decide the chances of these teams in Group C. The two Saudi representatives in the regional competition had suffered depressing results and consequences in their local matches of the Saudi League and the new Saudi Champions Cup. Al-Ittihad fans were hurt when the team, after enjoying the top spot, lost the Saudi League title to Al-Hilal by losing the match 1-0. Brazilian coach Estevam Soares found himself out of the technical team after the defeat. He was replaced temporarily with former player Hamza Idriss. But Idriss also failed to bring the team back to the right track when it drew with Al-Ittifaq in the Saudi Champions Cub, just five days after losing the league title. Last Monday, Al-Ittihad's president Jamal Abu-Emarah signed an 18-month contract with the Argentinean coach Gabriel Calderon in an attempt to set the things right in the two remaining competitions. Upon his arrival in Jeddah the former Saudi national coach Calderon promised to turn around its fortunes. “It is a crucial time for the team as we need to overcome many challenges in the next few weeks,” Calderon said. He added that he knows most of the Ittihad players since he successfully led the Saudis to 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals in Germany. The good news for Calderon is that Sepahan striker Mohammed Karimi will miss the clash after he picked an injury in the Iranian league. The Isfahan-based side stays at the bottom of the group with three points. The other Saudi team Al-Ahli also had another embarrassment when it was shocked 6-1 by Al-Shabab in the first leg of the Saudi Champions Cup last Friday.The defeat was the first after the club sacked the former Serbian coach Nebosja. Al-Ahli and Al-Wehda have failed to record any win in the previous three rounds. They drew 1-1 in the first leg at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah two weeks ago. Al-Ahli, which is currently led by national coach Yousuf Anbr, also has failed to improve the performance of the team. Al-Ahli has left for the UAE without the two Brazilian importers Leandro Silva and Osvaldo Souza. Silva is suspended after being sent off against Al-Wahda last time, while Souza was left out of the squad. Anbar said: “It is a difficult match but the pressure will be on Al-Wehda when it plays in front of its home fans and I think we have a good chance to win the game.” Other matches: Group A: Kuruvchi vs. Al-Ittihad Syria. Group B: Saipa vs. Al-Quwa; Kuwait vs. Al-Wasl. Group C: Al-Karama vs. Al-Sadd. Group D: Al-Gharafa vs. Al-Qadsia; Arbil vs. Pakhtakor. Group E: Adelaide vs. Binh Duong; Pohang Steelers vs. Changchun Yatai. Group F: Beijing Guoan vs. Kashima Antlers; Nam Dinh vs. Krug Thai bank. Group G: Chonburi vs. Chunnam Dragons; Gamba Osaka vs. Melbourne. __
