The first football team of Al-Ittihad Saudi Club succeeded in snatching three precious and well-deserved points, after defeating their guest Nasaf Qarshi of Uzbekistan by one goal to nil, in the match that brought them together on Tuesday evening at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, as part of the sixth round of the AFC Champions League Elite Championship.
Details of the confrontation and the Brigadier's control
Al-Ittihad entered the match with clear attacking intentions from the opening minutes, seeking to settle matters early. The "Dean" almost opened the scoring in the eighth minute through young player Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, but the post denied his shot. Al-Ghamdi then threatened again with a powerful shot that went over the crossbar in the 13th minute. The home side's bad luck continued in the first half, as the post intervened again to deny French star Karim Benzema a certain goal in the 41st minute. The first half ended in a goalless draw despite Al-Ittihad's complete dominance.
Benzema cracks the code and Rajkovic shines
At the start of the second half, Al-Ittihad continued their attacking pressure, and their captain, Karim Benzema, finally broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, capitalizing on a perfectly delivered cross and expertly placing it past goalkeeper Abdulvakhid Nematov. Nasaf, however, did not sit back, launching dangerous counter-attacks that nearly resulted in an equalizer. But Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic made a brilliant save from Kosovar Edinis Chala in the 77th minute, and then again in stoppage time, turning the ball behind for a corner to secure the victory for his team.
The importance of winning and qualification calculations in the elite system
This victory holds immense strategic importance for Al-Ittihad under the new format of the AFC Champions League, as it boosted their points tally to nine, propelling them to sixth place in the West Zone. Securing a top-eight finish is crucial for guaranteeing qualification to the Round of 16. Conversely, the situation has become dire for Uzbekistan's Nasaf, who remain at the bottom of the group with zero points, effectively eliminating their chances of advancing.
The long history of the federation in Asia
This victory serves as a reminder to Asian fans of Al-Ittihad's illustrious history in this tournament, as the "Tigers of Asia" strive to reclaim their continental glory. Al-Ittihad boasts two historic AFC Champions League titles, won in 2004 and 2005, an achievement that places positive pressure on the current generation, led by world-class stars like Benzema and Kanté, to pursue a third title. This is especially crucial given that the tournament, in its new "elite" format, features the strongest teams on the continent and demands stamina and unwavering focus.
