Al-Wehda have edged closer to the final stage of the Saudi league for the first time in their history after a 1-1 draw with Al-Faisali, while Ahli Jeddah registered the same score line after failing to beat Al-Nassr at home. In Mecca, Senegalese striker Hamad Ji gave Al-Wehda a 22nd minute lead before Abdou Barnawi equalized for the hosts Faisali in the 38th minute. Theo Buecker's Wehda managed to hold on to the draw after being reduced to ten men after just 7 minutes following defender's Suleiman Amido red card. The Knights of Mecca reached the 40th point and are settled in second place as they need just two points from the next three games to secure a top four spot. Ahli Jeddah's hopes of a final stage place have been menaced after a disappointing draw with Al-Nassr in Jeddah. Al-Nassr took the lead at the stroke of halftime through a goal from Awwad Al-Otaibi, and Abdul-Ellah Al-Hawsawi's late strike saved Ahli from an embarrassing home defeat in the 86th minute.
Ahli Jeddah are not performing Ahli lie in fifth place with 26 points, trailing fourth placed Al-Shabab by 8 points. On the other hand Ahli's arch rivals Ittihad boosted their final stage hopes after they came back from a goal down to beat Al-Hazm 2-1. Brazilian striker Vagner and Saudi international Mohamed Nour scored in the 57th and 68th minutes respectively to cancel out Bandar Zayed's first half strike. Ittihad share third place with Shabab on 38 points but the latter lead on goal difference, while Hazm are ninth on 17 points. Table-toppers Al-Hilal have already booked their final stage place after beating Al-Qadisiya 3-0 in Riyadh on Monday.
