Ittifaq beat visitors Al-Hazm 2-1 in a round-10 Zain Saudi Professional League encounter at Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam Thursday. Al-Faisali also won over visiting side Al-Ta'awon by the same margin at Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Sports City Stadium in Al-Majma'a City. Ittifaq striker Yousof Al-Salem gave his team the lead after 23 minutes before Hazm striker Safwan Al-Muallad leveled the score from the spot, a minute before the break. A header by Ittifaq skipper Sayyaf Al-Bishi, in the 83rd minute, handed the host the win. Referee Mottrif Al-Qahtani gave Hazm midfielder Ahmed Minawir his marching orders three minutes after Al-Bishi's goal. The win put Ittifaq into the second spot on the standings with 19 points. Hazm remains at the bottom on three points. In the other match, midfielder Ahmed Al-Harbi put Ta'awon in front at the fag end of the first half. Albanian striker Migen Memelli succeeded in leveling the score for Faisali two minutes after the break. His teammate defender Aqeel Al-Sahbi's perfect header sealed the win for the host a minute before time. The third straight win put Faisali in the 5th place on 15 points. Ta'awon is 8th on 11 points. On Sunday, Al-Hilal will host its city rival Al-Nasr at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.
