ATHERTON Colls pulled off a stunning upset to beat eight-time Saudi Arabia champions Al-Ittihad at the Skuna Stadium last night.

More than 700 fans watched as goals from Matty Grimshaw and trialist Danny O’Brien made light of the pre-match 14/1 odds on a Colls victory.

Colls have made fantastic progress in recent years, climbing from the depths of the North West Counties League to compete at the seventh tier of English football for the first time in their history.

And it proved to be another landmark night as Grimshaw opened the scoring on 32 minutes with a glanced header from Oliver Roberts’ in-swinging free-kick.

The Saudi side, twice crowned the best side in Asia, had plenty of possession but the better chances fell to the hosts.

Roberts was a threat on the right and his cross nearly picked out Ian Rowlands a few minutes after the restart.

Trialist O’Brien had an effort pushed around the post but waited just two more minutes to grab a deserved goal, springing the offside trap and finishing well from the left side of the penalty box.