In an exceptional footballing night at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad club firmly established itself as a leading contender for the continental title, after thrashing Qatar's Al-Gharafa 7-0 to officially secure its place in the Round of 16 of the inaugural AFC Champions League. With this resounding victory, Al-Ittihad joined fellow Saudi clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli in the next round, confirming Saudi Arabia's dominance in the tournament.
The goal fest began with Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri scoring an early goal in the third minute, putting his team ahead and paving the way for a resounding victory. The goals continued to pour in, with Algerian star Houssem Aouar netting a brilliant hat-trick in the 20th, 58th, and 79th minutes, while Portuguese duo Roger Fernandes (49th and 62nd minutes) and Danilo Pereira (51st minute) added the remaining goals in an attacking display that showcased the cohesion and formidable attacking prowess of the "Dean" squad.
Historical context and the importance of the tournament with its new format
This qualification comes at a significant time for Al-Ittihad, a club with a rich history in the Asian Champions League, having previously won the title twice consecutively in 2004 and 2005. This participation is particularly important as it comes under the new format of the tournament, now called the "AFC Champions League Elite," which features the 24 strongest clubs in the continent. This format aims to raise the level of competition and increase the tournament's commercial appeal, making every victory, especially one of this magnitude, a powerful message to their rivals.
The impact of winning on the sports scene
Domestically, this victory boosts the confidence of Al-Ittihad and its fans, giving them a tremendous morale boost to continue competing strongly in local and continental tournaments. Regionally, this resounding win solidifies the position of Saudi clubs as a dominant force in Asian football and reflects the significant development and investment in the Kingdom's sports sector. Internationally, the outstanding performance of world-class stars like En-Nesyri, Aouar, and Pereira highlights the quality and strength of the Saudi league, drawing the attention of fans worldwide to Asian competitions.
With this victory, Al-Ittihad raised their points tally to 12, advancing to fifth place in the West Zone standings, while Al-Gharafa's points remained at 6, dropping them to tenth place and complicating their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages. Al-Ittihad now looks confidently towards the advanced stages, carrying the hopes of their fans for a return to continental glory.
