1988 King Cup

1988 King Cup

Tournament details
Country	Saudi Arabia
Dates	30 March – 15 April 1988
Teams	14
Defending champions	Al-Nassr
Final positions
Champions	Al-Ittihad (6th title)
Runner-up	Al-Ettifaq
Arab Cup Winners' Cup	Al-Ittihad
Tournament statistics
Matches played	13
Goals scored	33 (2.54 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)	Saleh Al-Najrani (4 goals)

The 1988 King Cup was the 30th season of the knockout competition since its establishment in 1956. Al-Nassr were the defending champions but they were eliminated by eventual champions Al-Ittihad in the semi-finals.[1]

Al-Ittihad won their 6th title after defeating Al-Ettifaq 1–0 in the final.[2][3] This was the first final to be held in the King Fahd International Stadium.[4] As winners of the tournament, Al-Ittihad qualified for the 1989 Arab Cup Winners' Cup.

Round of 16

Both Al-Ettifaq and Ohod received a bye to the next round. Al-Ettifaq received due to their participation in the 1988 Gulf Club Champions Cup. Ohod received a bye to the lack of teams participating in this round.[5] The matches of the Round of 16 were held on 31 March and 1 April 1988.[6][7]

Home team	Score	Away team
Al-Ettifaq	Bye
Ohod	Bye
Al-Ahli	3–3 (2–3 pen.)	Al-Riyadh
Al-Ittihad	1–0	Al-Qadsiah
Al-Tai	0–1	Al-Nahda
Al-Kawkab	0–2	Al-Wehda
Al-Tuhami	2–2 (3–4 pen.)	Al-Shabab
Al-Nassr	1–0	Al-Hilal

Quarter-finals

The matches of the Quarter-finals were held on 7 and 8 April 1988.[8][9][10]

Home team	Score	Away team
Al-Nassr	4–0	Ohod
Al-Riyadh	1–3	Al-Shabab
Al-Ettifaq	1–0 (aet)	Al-Wehda
Al-Nahda	0–4	Al-Ittihad

Semi-finals

The four winners of the quarter-finals progressed to the semi-finals. The semi-finals were played on 12 April 1988. All times are local, AST (UTC+3).

12 April 1988

16:30

Al-Shabab	0–2	Al-Ettifaq
	Report	Omar 30' Hamood 89'

Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz, Riyadh

Referee: Mohammed Al-Shareef

12 April 1988

20:30

Al-Nassr	1–1 (a.e.t.)	Al-Ittihad
Al-Bishi 71'	Report	Al-Suwaiyed 40'
Penalties
Abdullah Al-Jam'an Al-Metlaq	1–4	Al-Suwaiyed Jamil Al-Muwallad Fareej

Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz, Riyadh

Referee: Omer Al Mehannah

Final

The final was played between Al-Ittihad and Al-Ettifaq in the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.[11] Al-Ittihad were appearing in their 11th final while Al-Ettifaq were making their 6th appearance.

15 April 1988

15:40 (UTC+3)

Al-Ittihad	1–0	Al-Ettifaq
Jamil 29'	Report

King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh

Referee: Omar Al-Shaqeer

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Saleh Al-Najrani	Al-Riyadh	4
2	Bassem Abu Dawood	Al-Ahli	2
	Majed Abdullah	Al-Nassr
	Salah Al-Muwallad	Al-Ittihad
	Mohamed Al-Suwaiyed	Al-Ittihad

References

1. "الاتحاد يزداد قوة".
2. "Saudi Arabia 1987/88". RSSSF.
3. "نادي الاتحاد يحصل على كاس خادم الحرمين الشريفين".
4. "!قمة التتويج الرياضي من الاتفاق ام الاتحاد؟".
5. "كشف حسابات الفرق استعدادا لكاس الملك".
6. "Jazirah newspaper 01-04-1988".
7. "Jazirah newspaper 02-04-1988".
8. "Jazirah newspaper 08-04-1988".
9. "Jazirah newspaper 09-04-1988".
10. "Jazirah newspaper 08-04-1988 (2)".
11. "كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين - 1988".