Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Two heavyweight teams spoiled the show in the third week of the 18th SIFF-Eastea Champions League Football Tournament at the Ministry of Education Stadium here recently.

The much-expected “SIFF clasico” between last yea’s champion Real Kerala XI and runner-up Zabin FC petered out into an ill-tempered match, filled with unnecessary and dirty fouls which earned a host of yellow cards and finally a red.

Thankfully when better sense prevailed and the match was completed after a lot of confusion and threat of walkout by champion team, Zabin FC won 3-0, helped by two penalties and a field goal.

The two teams, filled with excellent and very talented players, who could have dished out a beautiful game had they followed the SIFF motto of “Football for Friendship”, instead took the dangerous line of “football for vengeance” and seemed in a mood of settling a score.

As the highly tensed game kicked off, surprisingly the players were seen resorting to dirty tackles and fouls and a puzzled referee pulling out yellow cards, cautioning the players umpteen times.

After 10 minutes of tension, Zabin went one goal up on a penalty and the game slowly turned into their favor and they increased the lead to 2-0.

The tempo continued in the same pattern and it seemed as if the referee too losing the focus during the melee and alas the fourth umpire’s table officials. Amid the confusion over a substitution for Real Kerala, there came a whistle for another penalty against Real which led to an all-out confusion and the match was halted.

However, better sense prevailed, thanks to the players of both teams, teams’ officials and SIFF officers, the match resumed, penalty was converted and Zabin FC won 3-0.

The soccer-mad fans roared and booed from the gallery and left the stadium hungry for classic matches.

Goalkeeper Sharafuddin of Zabin FC was adjudged as the Player of the Match.

In other matches, Newcastle United and Jeddah FC shared two goals in Division B. Shihab put Newcastle in the lead and M. Muhammed Ali equalized through a penalty. Player of the Match: Mohammed Jaffer of Jeddah FC.

In a C Division match, Soccer Freakz Seniors held United Sports Club B to a 1-1 draw. Mohammed Rafi scored for United, while Player of the Match Falihuddeen leveled for Freakz.

The under-17 match in Division D between Anakish FC and Talent Teens too ended in a 1-1 draw. While Shazin scored for Talent Teens, Arshad Abdul Samad equalized for Anakish. Player of the Match: Mohammed Murshid.

Friday’s matches (from 5 p.m.): Sporting United B vs. Talent Teens Football Academy (Div. D); Blue Star Seniors vs. Youth India FC (Div. C); Yas Club vs. Jeddah FC (Div. B) and Town Team Strikers vs. Blue Star B (Di. A). — SG