Al-Ittihad secured a valuable but lackluster 1-0 victory over Al-Najma at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, in a matchday 20 fixture of the Saudi Professional League. Malian striker Mohamed Doumbia scored the only goal of the game very early on, giving his team three crucial points in their struggling season.
Match details and key events
Al-Ittihad wasted no time in opening the scoring after just four minutes. A perfectly weighted cross found its way to Mohamedou Doumbia, who made no mistake in powerfully slotting the ball past Brazilian goalkeeper Victor Braga to give his team the lead. Following the goal, Al-Najma attempted a quick comeback in the 13th minute, but Serbian goalkeeper Rajkovic was alert and made a brilliant save. Al-Ittihad continued to press for a second goal to secure the victory, and Algerian Houssem Aouar unleashed a powerful shot in the 22nd minute, but Braga was equal to the task.
In the second half, Al-Ittihad maintained their dominance on the field, but without creating any real scoring opportunities. Aouar missed a clear chance in the 50th minute when his header went just wide of the post. Goalkeeper Rajkovic was called into action again, making a fine save from a powerful shot by Honduran player Deby Flores in the 55th minute. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Braga was the star of his team, making two crucial saves from Frenchman Moussa Diaby in the 57th and 70th minutes. Before the final whistle, young striker Talal Haji inexplicably missed an easy chance, while Rajkovic made a vital save in stoppage time to preserve his team's lead until the final whistle.
The context of the match and its importance to the federation
This victory comes at a critical time for Al-Ittihad, the reigning league champions, who have been struggling with inconsistent performances and results this season. After a shaky start that led to a change in management and the arrival of Argentine coach Marcelo Gallardo, the team is still searching for its identity and strong form. Despite boasting a constellation of international stars, the team has lacked cohesion in many matches. Therefore, these three points represent a significant morale boost and a step forward in their quest to improve their position in the league table and secure a spot in the Asian competitions.
Impact on the standings and the future of both teams
With this victory, Al-Ittihad raised their points tally to 34, strengthening their hold on sixth place and narrowing the gap with the leading teams. Although the performance wasn't entirely convincing for their fans, securing all three points is paramount at this stage. Meanwhile, Al-Najma's struggles deepen as they remain rooted to the bottom of the table with only five points, making their survival in the top division virtually impossible. Al-Najma will need a miracle in the remaining matches to avoid relegation, while Al-Ittihad will be looking to build on this win and achieve a string of positive results in the coming weeks.
