A fighting Sharafiya Trading BCC Football Club held reigning champion Al-Abeer Medical Group ACC-A to a 1-1 draw in a First Division match of the 16th SIFF-Western Union Soccer 2012 at the Ministry of Education Stadium here Friday. Earlier in the Second Division matches, International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ) rallied to share two goals with Young Challengers Club and Emami Blue Star Sports Club B prevailed over a hardworking United Sports Club 1-0. The three-month long event is mainly sponsored by Western Union Money Transfer and supported by Al-Abeer Medical Group, Naseem Jeddah Hospital, Jeddah National Hospital and Rose Biriyani Rice. ACC-A, which had impressed on the opening day, could not assert its class against a spirited BCC which struggled to get used to the new pitch. However, ACC positioned well to control the proceedings in the first session. Its key defender Jaleel manned the rear area well and even looked the main man on the day. ACC-A took the lead in the 14th minute. Zaheer floated a free kick beautifully from near the right corner flag and a well positioned Jaleel headed home powerfully. By the second session BCC players got used to the ground and began dictating the terms whereas ACC looked a shadow of its usual self. Its midfielder Zaheer was off-color and an injured Jaleel had to be carried off. BCC then bounced back well and equalized through Jasheer Tharayil who converted a penalty. Siraj of ACC was adjudged as the Player of the match. Young Challengers Club took the upper hand against schoolboys in the 14th minute through Madhu Mankada. But the energetic boys restored parity in the second session, with Sami converting a penalty. Sajid of Young Challengers was selected as the Player of the Match. The Blue Star-United match was interesting with a lot of attacks and counterattacks but the firing line failed to find the target. At last, Basheer, a veteran of SIFF tournaments, settled the issue for Blue Star off a free kick. The master shooter beat the human wall with a magical chip. Sulaiman of Blue Star was adjudged as the Player of the Match. Friday's matches: 5:15 P.M. – ABC Cargo-Yas Club vs Jeddah Sports Club; 6:30 P.M. – Al-Bassami Friends vs Nadec-Blue Star Sports Club A. — SG __
