[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="Wave of upsets at IISJAA-IFPL" ids="102549,102548,102544,102545,102546,102547"]
JEDDAH — IISJAA Football Premier League (IFPL), organized by International Indian School Jeddah Alumni Association, mainly sponsored by Saudi Gazette with SMS Solutions, FRiENDi, Indomie, Digital Ways, Mix FM and Giordano as co-sponsors, saw stunning upsets in the third week at the Khalidiyah Kaki Ground.
EFS FC roared from behind to grab the second spot behind FC Spartans who snatched the top position from Never United.
EFS FC thrashed FC Brotherz Thursday with a whopping 15-1 decision and then eked out a tough 3-2 win Saturday against Catalonia. EFS FC striker Thowfiq Abdul Nazar, who won the Man-of-the-Match award Thursday after scoring 7 goals against FC Brotherz, turned a villain later as he was shown red card in the game against Catalonia.
FC Spartans underlined its supremacy by humbling league leader Never United at 5-1 and topped the standings with full points, with their Khaled Naser being adjudged the Man of the Match.
Athletic Alliance poured more misery on Never United Saturday by handing it a 5-1 drubbing, powered by some fabulous skills of Man-of-the-Match Mohammed Waqi. The win moved it up two places in the standings.
FC Brotherz finally found their form Saturday by edging FC Bavarians 5-4 in a nailbiting second half thriller. FC Brotherz had led 3-0 in the first half. Mubashir Quadri of FC Brotherz was named the Man of the Match.
Catalonia and EFS FC had a tough game Saturday, with both teams in excellent form and going all out on an attack strategy. Although EFS FC emerged winner the fine game was marred by two dismissals — one from each team.
FC Legends stunned the crowd with their impeccable display of skills as they drew 1-1 with a tough Gladiatorz. Haseeb Khateeb of FC Legends stole the show during the nerve-racking game.
Results:
Thursday: Spartans FC defeated Never United 5-1. Man of the Match: Khaled Naser of FC Spartans.
FC Brotherz lost to EFC FC 1-15. Man of the Match: Thowfiq Abdul Nazar of EFS FC.
Gladiatorz defeated Desi Starz 6-2. Man of the Match: Omer Mashjari of Gladiatorz.
Catalonia upset Athletic Alliance 3-1. Man of the Match: Assam Muqtaar of Catalonia.
FC Bavarians downed FC Legends 5-1. Man of the Match: Zaid Aleem Siddiqui of FC Bavarians.
Saturday: Friends United beat Desi Starz 5-0. Man of the Match: Aliuddin Farooqui of Friends United.
FC Legends drew with Gladiatorz 1-1. Man of the Match: Haseeb Khateeb of FC Legends.
Catalonia was defeated by EFS FC 2-3. Man of the Match: Thowfiq Abdul Nazar of EFS FC.
FC Brotherz upset FC Bavarians 5-4. Man of the Match: Mubashir Quadri of FC Brotherz.
Athletic Alliance beat Never United 5-1. Man of the Match: Mohammed Waqi of Athletic Alliance.
Statistics:
Total goals scored: 174 (in 30 matches).
Top scorers:
Thowfiq Nazar of EFS FC — 16 goals; Haatim Nazir of Never United (9); Waleed Shamlan of FC Spartans (8).
Disciplinary status: 33 yellow cards and 4 red cards in 30 matches.
Matches schedule:
Thursday: FC Bavarians vs. Gladiatorz 9:00 p.m.; Catalonia vs. FC Brotherz 9:00 p.m.; Friends United vs. FC Legends 9:00 p.m.; Never United vs. EFS FC 10:00 p.m.; Spartans vs. Desi Starz 10:00 p.m.
Saturday: FC Bavarians vs. Catalonia 9:00 p.m.; Friends United vs. Gladiators 9:00 p.m.; Never United vs. FC Brotherz 9:00 p.m.; Spartans vs. FC Legends 10:00 p.m.; Desi Starz vs. Athletic Alliance 10:00 p.m.
