[gallery size="full" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="100895,101183,100893,100892"]JEDDAH — IISJAA Football Premier League (IFPL) continues to amaze the spectators with thrilling matches at the Kaki Ground, Khalidiyah here. The third championship, organized by International Indian School Jeddah Alumni Association (IISJAA), is mainly sponsored by Saudi Gazette. The co-sponsors are SMS Solutions, FRiENDi, Indomie, Digital Ways, Mix FM and Giordano. Never United maintained its numero uno position in the league standing with two thumping victories in the second week. After recording a 3-1 win against Gladiatorz, a stoppage time volley by Haatim Nazir handed Never United a stunning 2-1 win over Friends United. In both matches, the Man-of-the-Match awards went to Never United players Haatim Nazir and Shams Khan, respectively. With these two wins, Never United has clinched all 12 points from its 4 matches with a +16 goal difference, being chased closely in second spot by FC Spartans which also has secured 12 points but stands second on +11 goal difference. FC Spartans defeated FC Brotherz Thursday in a one-sided match that ended 7-1. Its skipper Waleed Shamlan scored thrice and won the Man-of-the-Match award. The most anticipated match of the league — the IFPL "El Classico" — was between FC Spartans and Catalonia Saturday. Catalonia had won its Thursday's match against Friends United 3-1, with Assam Muqtar bagging the Man-of-the-Match award. The El-Classico was witnessed by a huge crowd of supporters from both teams and had some amazing display of skills and football wizardry. However it also saw its share of rough play, tackles and heated arguments due to the immense pressure on players of both sides. Although Catalonia opened the scoring, FC Spartans bounced back and stormed to 4-1 lead. Catalonia, however, made it match as its sustained efforts were rewarded twice (3-4). But Spartans held on to emerge victorious. Thursday's results: Catalonia defeated Friends United 3-1. Man of the Match: Assam Muqtaar of Catalonia. Athletic Alliance lost to EFC FC 4-2. Man of the Match: Thowfiq Abdul Nazar of EFS FC. Spartans FC thrashed FC Brotherz 7-1. Man of the Match: Waleed Naser Shamlan of FC Spartans. Never United upset Gladdiatorz 3-1. Man of the Match: Haatim Nazir of Never United. FC Bavarians downed Desi Starz 4-2. Man of the Match: Zaid Aleem Siddiqui of FC Bavarians. Saturday's results: FC Brotherz lost to Athletic Alliance 0-5. Man of the Match: Hassanuddin Shoaib of Atheltic Alliance. FC Legends beat Dei Starz 3-1. Man of the Match: Faisal Syed Ali of FC Legends. FC Bavarians were upset by EFS FC 6-2. Man of the Match: Mohammed Fazil of EFS FC. FC Spartans defeated Catalonia 4-3. Man of the Match: Waleed Shamlan of FC Spartans. Never United beat Friends United 2-1. Man of the Match: Shams Khan of Never United. Statistics: Total goals scored: 109 (20 matches). Top scorers: Haatim Nazir of Never United and Thowfiq Nazar of EFS FC (8 goals), Waleed Shamlan of FC Spartans (6), Abdulrahman Al Rafae of Never United (4). Disciplinary status: 23 yellow cards and 2 red cards (20 matches). Matches schedule: Thursday: FC Spartans vs. Never United 9:00 p.m.; FC Brotherz vs. EFS FC 9:00 p.m.; Gladiators vs. Desi Starz 9:00 p.m.; Catalonia vs. Athletic Alliance 10:00 p.m. and FC Bavarians vs. FC Legends 10:00 p.m. Saturday: Friends United vs. Desi Starz 7:00 p.m.; Gladiators vs. FC Legends 7:00 p.m.; Catalonia vs. EFS FC 7:00 p.m.; FC Bavarians vs. FC Brotherz 8:00 p.m. and Never United vs. Athletic Alliance 8:00 p.m.
