Ittihad F.C.–Al-Ahli F.C. rivalry

Last updated
Jeddah Derby
Other namesDerby of the Mermaid
Locale Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Teams
First meetingAl-Ahli 0–0 Al-Ittihad
Friendly
(1951)
Latest meetingAl-Ahli 1–1 Al-Ittihad
Pro League
(11 February 2021)
Stadiums King Abdullah Sports City
Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium
Al-Saban Stadium
Statistics
Meetings totalOfficial matches: 183
Unofficial matches: 14
Total matches: 197
Most winsOfficial matches: Al-Ahli (70)
Unofficial matches: Al-Ittihad (7)
Total matches: Al-Ahli (73)
Top scorer Saeed Ghurab (19)
Largest victoryAl-Ittihad 8–2 Al-Ahli
Regional League
(24 October 1966)

The Jeddah Derby, also called the Derby of the Mermaid, [1] is the name given to football matches contested between Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, both from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is currently the longest running top-flight derby in Saudi Arabian football. The rivalry started in 1951 and is considered to be one of the strongest and most viewed matches in Asia and the Arab world. [2]

Contents

History

The first-ever match between these two teams was in 1951. The two teams played a friendly match in Al-Saban Stadium in Jeddah which ended 0–0. [3] In 1958, both teams met each other in the final of the Crown Prince Cup in what would be the first final between these two teams. Over 12,000 fans attended the match at the Al-Saban Stadium in Jeddah. Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Ahli 3–2 to lift their first Crown Prince Cup trophy. The first league match between the two sides was during the first season of the Saudi League, the 1976–77 season. [4] Al-Ahli won the match 2–0 thanks to goals from Saad Al-Harbi and Idris Adam. Saeed Ghurab is the top scorer of the derby with 20 goals, 17 for Al-Ittihad and 3 for Al-Ahli. The clubs have met each other in 12 finals, with Al-Ittihad winning 7 and Al-Ahli winning 5.

Official match results

As of 11 February 2021. Source: [5] [6]

Dates are in dd/mm/yyyy form.

  Al-Ahli win  Draw  Al-Ittihad win

1 1987 King Cup Second Round match won 4–3 on penalties by Al-Ittihad after both teams were tied 0–0.
2 2005–06 Crown Prince Cup quarter-final won 4–2 on penalties by Al-Ahli after both teams were tied 1–1.
3 2011 King Cup Final won 4–2 on penalties by Al-Ahli after both teams were tied 0–0.

Records

Most goals in a match

Al-Ahli biggest wins

*Four or more goals difference, OR Al-Ahli scored five or above

Al-Ittihad biggest wins

*Four or more goals difference, OR Al-Ittihad scored five or above

Highest Attendance

*45,000 or above

Statistics

Statistics as of 11 February 2021. [7] [8] [9]

MatchesAl-Ahli
Wins
DrawsAl-Ittihad
Wins
Al-Ahli
Goals
Al-Ittihad
Goals
Regional League
75021715
Saudi League
94303430128129
Total league matches
101353432145144
King Cup
34161085543
Crown Prince Cup
147162422
Federation Cup
30910113233
Founder's Cup
211043
Asian Champions League
210121
Arab Champions League
211043
Total official matches183705657265246
Al-Maseef Tournament310256
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Tournament301224
Friendlies102441220
Total matches201736266285279

Top scorers

Below is the list of players who have scored at least four goals in official meetings.

PositionNameTeamGoals
1 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saeed Ghurab Al-Ittihad (16) Al-Ahli (3)19
2 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Hussam Abo Dawood Al-Ahli 14
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Talal Al-Meshal Al-Ahli (12) Al-Ittihad (2)
4 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Suleiman Mattar Al-Ahli 13
Flag of Brazil.svg Sérgio Ricardo Al-Ittihad (10) Al-Ahli (3)
Flag of Syria.svg Omar Al Somah Al-Ahli
7 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Hamzah Idris Al-Ittihad 11
8 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Amin Dabo Al-Ahli 9
9 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Salah Al-Muwallad Al-Ittihad 8
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Mohammed Noor Al-Ittihad
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Abdullah Fawal Al-Ittihad

Players who played for both clubs

Source: [10] [11]

Al-Ahli then Al-Ittihad
Al-Ittihad then Al-Ahli

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References

  1. "دربي العروس».. بين عقدة وصدارة".
  2. - Daralakhbar:Derby of Jeddah
  3. "أرقام تاريخية من ديربي جدة بين الأهلي والاتحا".
  4. "ديربي جدة.. الإتحاد يسعى لإنهاء السبع العجاف والأهلي يتمسك بالمنافسة".
  5. "تاريخ لقاءات الاهلي والاتحاد".
  6. "تاريخ لقاءات".
  7. "Statistics".
  8. "إحصائية مواجهات ( الاهلي و الاتحاد )". Archived from the original on 2017-10-22.
  9. "أرقام ومفارقات ومعلومات لأول مرة عن ديربي جدة".
  10. "24 لاعباً ارتدوا قميص الاتحاد والأهلي".
  11. ""مكة" ترصد أبرز تنقلات اللاعبين بين الأهلي والاتحاد خلال 60 عاما".