Zabeen to meet Blue Star for Nadec Soccer Fest crown

JEDDAH — Sharafiya Trading Zabeen FC will lock horns with host Nadec Blue Star A for the seniors title in the third Nadec Blue Star Soccer Fest 2016 at the Hilal Sham Stadium near Khaled Bin Waleed Street here recently. It will be Sporting United A vs. Talent Teens in the Under-17 juniors final. Sharafiya Trading Zabeen FC and Nadec Blue Star A experienced contrasting fortunes in the semifinals last week. While Zabeen FC made short work of Al-Ryan Blue Star B at 4-0, the host’s A team Nadec Blue Star had a tough time against a talented GT Brand Real Kerala, prevailing through a tiebreaker after the regulation time ended in a 1-1 draw. It was the same story in the junior section as Sporting United A blanked Soccer Freaks 3-0 and Talent Teens survived a scare from Jeddah XI Juniors 2-1. Favorite Sporting United underlined its supremacy through a brace by Player of the Match Jasim Shinas and a third goal by Hatim Naseer. In the second semis, Salman Umer and Raeeh Zaman scored for Talent Teens and Yasir Irfan reduced the margin for Jeddah Juniors. Salman Umer was adjudged the Al-Amal Watches Player of the Match. In the seniors semifinals, powerful Zabeen FC ran over Blue Star B as Shafeer, Thaufeeq, Najish and Azhar scored at ease. Mohammed Aslam of Zabeen was named the Player of the Match. The late match between Real Kerala and Blue Star dished out a thrilling encounter for the holiday crowd. Real Kerala took an early lead through a penalty converted by Sanooj Mudakkaparamban. Blue Star upped the tempo and earned parity just before the break through Nissar Kodassery. As the thrilling second session ended barren the match was extended to tiebreaker and all the five Blue Star strikers were successful while Real Kerala’s third kick hit the post and went out handing Blue Star a coveted place in the final. Friday’s matches (finals): Sporting United A vs. Talent Teens (U-17 at 8:00 p.m.) and Sharafiya Trading Zabeen FC vs. Nadec Blue Star A (Srs at 9.30 p.m.). — SG