Catalonia to face EFS in IISJAA-IFPL semis

[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="Catalonia to face EFS in IISJAA-IFPL semis" ids="107462,107463,107461,107460,107459"] 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, has reached its final knockout stage at the Kaki Ground, Khalidiyah. Thursday’s schedule saw the last five qualifying matches, in which Athletic Alliance once again proved to be the dark horse by defeating Friends United in a classic clash at 4-3 and pushing them into fourth position. Athletic Alliance, despite having no chance to qualify for the final stage, did not cave in but showed that it is the team to watch this season. Catalonia secured the third spot with a whopping 19-2 shattering of Desi Starz. Spartans, who had guaranteed the top spot and a place in the final, comfortably defeated FC Bavarians 8-1. EFS FC on the other hand, faced a tough rival in the last match in the form of a rejuvenated Gladiators. EFS FC, which has a ravaging attacking line, faced a solid defense of Gladiators, who despite the 1-6 loss, showcased their talent and their counter attacks were commendable. Saturday’s quarterfinal fixture was a superb game between Catalonia and Friends United. It kept the spectators on their toes for most of the game. Catalonia took the lead twice and Friends kept bouncing back with equalizers. Both teams kept changing their attacking strategies and their skills and touches proved why they deserved to be in the top four. However, it was Catalonia which had the final say with a brilliant header in the second half that sealed its victory at 3-2 and a spot in the semifinal against EFS FC. Thursday’s results: Gladiators lost to EFS FC 1-6. Man of the Match: Mohammed Fazil of EFS FC. Friends United defeated by Athletic Alliance 3-4. Man of the Match: Hasan Siddiqui of Athletic Alliance. Catalonia routed Desi Starz 19-2. Man of the Match: Assam Muqtar of Catalonia. FC Bavarians lost to Spartans 1-8. Man of the Match: Khalid Naser Shamlan of FC Spartans. FC Legends defeated FC Brothers 5-4. Man of the Match: Faisal Syed Ali of FC Legends. Saturday’s result (quarterfinal): Catalonia defeated Friends United 3-2. Man of the Match: Assam Muqtar of Catalonia. Total goals scored: 401 in 56 matches. Participating teams: FC Brother (sponsor – Careem; team manager - Syed Aziz); Friends United (sponsor - Shoot-sa.com; team manager – Zafer); Athletic Alliance (sponsor - Digital Ways; team manager - Abrar Hussaini); Desi Starz FC (sponsor - Desi Entertainers; team manager - Adnan Ehtesham); EFS FC (sponsor - EFS Logistics; team manager - Nadir Kalappadan); FC Bavarians; (sponsor - Shadab Restaurant and Mubarak Store); team managers - Zahid Ahmed & Bilal Khan); Spartans (sponsor - Star Vase Contracting Est.); Catalonia (team manager - Shaikh Aejaz); Never United (sponsor - GPI Gulf Power; team manager - Syed Mohd Abrar Shah); Gladiators (sponsor - Apex Express; team manager - Omar Al Mashjary); FC Legends (no sponsor and team manager). Matches schedule: Thursday (semis): EFS FC vs. Catalonia at 9:00 p.m. Saturday (final): Spartans vs. winner of Thursday’s semis at 07:00 p.m.