Because of a European glove: Al-Ittihad Jeddah stumble ahead of the Al-Nassr Clásico
Al-Ittihad of Jeddah stumbled to a goalless draw with hosts Al-Fateh on Saturday evening, in the fourth round of the Saudi Roshn Pro League.
The Chief ran into a wall in Croatia's Adrian Simber. The goalkeeper defended Al-Fateh's goal valiantly, and Al-Ittihad's players could not find the net across the 90 minutes.
The visitors' attacking flood began with a powerful strike from Houssem Aouar, which Simber pushed out for a corner in the 13th minute.
Fifteen minutes later, the Croatian keeper turned away a fierce effort from the Netherlands' Steven Bergwijn.
Al-Fateh nearly punished a lapse at the other end. Their star Lucas fired a powerful shot that flashed just wide of the post, and the first half ended goalless.
The visitors kept up the pressure after the break, and a header from Danilo Pereira struck the crossbar.
At the other end, Al-Ittihad's goalkeeper Rakovic shone to keep out a shot from Lukas Haraslin.
Youssef En-Nesyri, the Chief's striker, dragged an effort just wide, before the post denied Al-Ittihad again after a powerful strike from Muadh Faqihi in the 89th minute.
Those astonishing saves earned the Croatian keeper Adrian Simber the man of the match award in the Al-Ittihad and Al-Fateh fixture.
Al-Ittihad of Jeddah move on to 8 points in fourth place, ahead of the classico against Al-Nassr in the fifth round. Al-Fateh climb to two points in 16th.
