Abdullah Al Jamman double gives Saudi title to Al Hilal

Al Jamman scored a pair of goals in the last ten minutes as Al
Hilal captured the Saudi Arabian League title with 2-1 win over
three-time defending champions Al Ittihad in the league playoff
final on Wednesday.

The Asian Cup Winners' Cup champions wrested the league title
away from their fierce rivals after a frantic finish to the
match in which all three goals were scored and Al Ittihad had a
man sent off and a potential equaliser waved off.

Home side Al Hilal delighted their fans in the crowd of
32,000 in Jeddah as they took the lead in the 80th minute with
Al Jamman picking up the pieces after a magnificent effort by
2000 Asian Player of the Year Nawaf Al Temyat. The Saudi
international midfielder's shot from just inside the Al Ittihad
area came back off the crossbar but Al Jamman was on hand to put
the rebound into the net.

Al Ittihad appeared to equalise two minutes later when Hassan
Al Yami's shot went over the goalline before being cleared by Al
Hilal defender Ahmed Al Doukhi. Despite furious protests from
the visitors, referee Abdulrahman Al Zeid waved play on.

Things got worse for the defending champions as captain
Bassem Al Yami was sent off and Al Hilal then went 2-0 ahead
after Al Temyat set up Al Jemman for a close range goal.

Hassan Al Yami pulled a goal back in stoppage time by chipping over
Al Hilal goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayyea, but the home side held on to win their
first league title since 1998.