Al-Ittihad regained their footing in the Saudi Professional League, securing a valuable 2-1 victory over Al-Akhdoud at Al-Inma Stadium in the 18th round of matches. This win puts Al-Ittihad behind them their previous defeat and puts them back on the winning track, restoring the confidence of their fans, who numbered over 8,000.
The context of the match and its importance in the Roshan League
Al-Ittihad entered the match under immense pressure to appease their fans and return to contention for a top spot in the league standings, especially given the exceptionally competitive season featuring a constellation of international stars across various clubs. After clinching the league title last season, Al-Ittihad aimed to solidify their position as one of the strongest teams in the Kingdom and Asia. Meanwhile, Al-Akhdoud hoped for a positive result to aid their fight against relegation, making the match a difficult one for both sides.
First half details: Al-Ittihad dominance and world-class goals
Al-Ittihad asserted their dominance from the opening minutes, driven by a clear desire to secure an early victory. The first goal didn't take long to arrive; in the 12th minute, Algerian star Houssem Aouar opened the scoring after a decisive pass from his French teammate N'Golo Kanté, slotting the ball past goalkeeper Samuel. Al-Ittihad continued their pressure, and French star Karim Benzema nearly added a second goal in the 22nd minute, but Al-Akhdoud's goalkeeper made a brilliant save. Just before halftime, in the 43rd minute, N'Golo Kanté the second goal with a stunning long-range strike from outside the penalty area, sending the fans into raptures and reaffirming his significant contribution to the Saudi league.
Second half: Al-Akhdoud's comeback and Al-Ittihad's attempts
In the second half, Al-Akhdoud came out with renewed vigor and managed to reduce the deficit in the 59th minute through Burak Ince , who capitalized on a perfectly placed cross to head it into the net. This goal reignited the tension of the match. Al-Ittihad tried to respond quickly, and Benzema almost scored a third goal, but the crossbar denied him in the 62nd minute after a powerful shot. Despite both teams exchanging chances and attempts, most notably a clear opportunity wasted by Houssem Aouar in the 80th minute, the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.
Impact of the result on the league standings
With this victory, Al-Ittihad raised their points tally to 30 , strengthening their hold on sixth place and narrowing the gap with the leading teams, thus providing them with a significant morale boost for the remainder of the league season. Meanwhile, Al-Akhdoud's points total remains at 9, leaving them in seventeenth place (second to last), further complicating their relegation battle and presenting them with even greater challenges in the upcoming rounds.
