[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="Friends United stuns unbeaten Spartans" ids="105868,105869,105870,105871,105872,105873"] JEDDAH — IISJAA Football Premier League (IFPL), organized by International Indian School Jeddah Alumni Association, mainly sponsored by Saudi Gazette with SMS Solutions, FRiENDi mobile, Indomie, Digital Ways, Mix FM and Giordano as co-sponsors, continued to produce stunning results and set a record for highest number of goals in a week (93) at the Kaki Ground, Khalidiyah, here. Thursday's games saw a unique fixture between junior and senior alumni —Athletic Alliance vs. FC Legends. The game ended 13-1 in favor of Athletic Alliance and its energetic skipper Hassan Siddiqui won the Man-of-the-Match award for his 5 goals. Friends United continued its winning streak by thrashing FC Bavarians 7-1 and then stunning an unbeaten FC Spartans 3-1. It jumped into the second position in the standings and strengthened its chances for the semis. The first half of Friends United's game against FC Spartans saw the Spartan skipper Waleed getting injured and Friends United substitute Masood opening the score. Although Spartans instantly equalized through Mohammed in the very next minute, a superb free kick by Friends United skipper Ali Farooqui and a goal by Ibrahim Balladraf handed Spartans their maiden defeat in nine matches. Another exciting fixture was between Desi Starz and FC Brotherz where Desi Starz made their critics eat their words by storming into a 3-0 lead by exhibiting tremendous form and combination. FC Brotherz applied an all-out attack strategy in the second half and got one goal back but they were further surprised by two more goals by Desi Starz who made their highest score in the tournament so far. But their happiness was short-lived as the relentless efforts of FC Brotherz paid off as they leveled the score at 5-all and shared the honors. Both teams showed exemplary sportsman spirit during the game and displayed tremendous passion and zest in this tournament. Desi Starz skipper Mohammed Munshi was adjudged the Man of the Match. The remaining games Saturday saw Never United draw with Bavarians which unfortunately killed their chances to move forward to the quarters. On the other hand, Athletic Alliance blanked Gladiators 9-0 as Shoaib hit 8 goals. EFS drubbed FC Legends 15-0 with Thowfiq scoring 9 goals. Thursday's results: FC Legends lost to Athletic Alliance 1-13. Man of the Match: Hassan Siddiqui of Athletic Alliance. Spartans routed Gladiators 9-0. Man of the Match: Umar Mukhtar of Spartans. Never United defeated by Catalonia 1-3. Man of the Match: Atif Syed of Catalonia. Bavarians lost to Friends United 1-7. Man of the Match: Fahad Abdul Basith of Friends United. EFS FC thrashed Desi Starz 14-2. Man of the Match: Thowfiq Abdul Nazir of EFS FC. Saturday's results: FC Bavarians drew with Never United 2-2. Man of the Match: Jawad Baig of FC Bavarians. Spartans stunned by Friends United 1-3. Man of the Match: Syed Hussam Basheer of Friends United. FC Brotherz drew with Desi Starz 5-5. Man of the Match: Mohammed Munshi of Desi Starz. Athletic Alliance thrashed Gladiators 9-0. Man of the Match: Hassanuddin Shoaib of Athletic Alliance . EFS FC blanked FC Legends by 15-0. Man of the Match: Thowfiq Nazar of EFS FC. Statistics: Total goals scored: 343 (in 50 matches). Top scorers: Thowfiq Nazar of EFS FC (33 goals); Hassanuddin Shoeb of Athletic Alliance (24); Waleed Shamlan of FC Spartans (21). Disciplinary status: 52 Yellow Cards and 5 Red Cards (in 50 matches). Matches schedule: Thursday: Gladiators vs. EFS FC 9:00 p.m.; Friends United vs. Athletic Alliance 9:00 p.m.; Catalonia vs. Desi Starz 9:00 p.m.; FC Bavarians vs. Spartans 10:00 p.m.; FC Brothers vs. FC Legends 10:00 p.m. Saturday: Third-placed team meets fourth-placed team 7:00 p.m.
