The 26th round of the Saudi Professional League witnessed a major upset, as football fans were shocked by Al-Ittihad's 3-1 defeat to Al-Riyadh . This thrilling match, played at Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Stadium, compounded Al-Ittihad's woes, marking their second consecutive loss and raising serious questions about the team's form at this crucial stage of the season.
Details and objectives of the exciting match
The match began with early and intense attacking pressure from Al-Ittihad players, aiming to secure the three points and a higher position in the standings. This pressure paid off with the opening goal in the fourth minute, scored by Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri after a perfect cross from Roger Fernandez, which he headed brilliantly past goalkeeper Milan Borjan. Mario Mitai almost doubled Al-Ittihad's lead in the 24th minute with a powerful shot that went just wide. The first half ended with Al-Ittihad leading 1-0, amidst solid defensive organization from both teams.
In the second half, the tide turned completely. In the 48th minute, Leandro Antunes capitalized on a glaring error by Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic to score the equalizer for Al-Riyadh with a precise shot. This was Rajkovic's second consecutive mistake, following his blunder in the previous match against Al-Ahli, which the team also lost 3-0. Al-Riyadh continued their attacking efforts, and in the 80th minute, Tozé added a second goal after following up on Victor Lakhal's shot, which the goalkeeper initially saved. In the dying moments (90+4), the referee awarded Al-Riyadh a penalty. Despite Rajkovic's initial save, Mamadou Sylla followed up and converted the rebound, securing a valuable victory for the home side.
The repercussions of Al-Ittihad's loss to Al-Riyadh on the title holder's campaign
Al-Ittihad's loss to Al-Riyadh comes at a time when the team is experiencing a clear period of inconsistency in both its technical and physical performance. Historically, Al-Ittihad is one of the most prestigious clubs in Saudi Arabia and Asia, and the reigning champions of the league. With the tremendous development of the Saudi Professional League and the influx of international stars, the competition has become fiercer than ever. There is no longer room for dropping points, as clubs that were once struggling at the bottom of the table now possess the technical quality to challenge the top teams. This was clearly demonstrated by Al-Riyadh's ability to come back and achieve a historic victory that defied expectations.
The impact of the result on the relegation battle and Asian Champions League qualification spots
This result carries significant implications for the Saudi Pro League standings and has far-reaching effects both domestically and regionally. On the one hand, Al-Ittihad's points tally remains frozen at 42, keeping them in sixth place. This setback complicates the Jeddah-based club's chances of securing a spot in next season's Asian Champions League, placing the coaching and management staff under immense pressure from fans and the media. On the other hand, this victory is a lifeline for Al-Riyadh, as it lifts their points to 19, improving their fight to avoid relegation and moving them up to sixteenth place. This win provides Al-Riyadh's players with a tremendous morale boost for the remaining matches as they strive to escape the threat of relegation and prove their worthiness to remain among Saudi Arabia's elite.
