Al-Ittihad still dreams of a direct place in the Asian Champions League through Saudi Championship. On Friday afternoon, the team led by Karim Benzema beat Al Fayha 3-1, at home, at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, in the 25th round of the local league.
To qualify, the club needs to finish in second place in the tournament. With this afternoon’s victory, the team reached 46 points, two less than third-placed Al-Ahli, who drew with Al-Ettifaq. Vice-leader Al Nassr has 56 points, but has not yet played in the round. Al Fayha remained with 32, in eighth place.
Now, Al-Ittihad will have a direct confrontation for third place in the Saudi Championship against Al-Ahli, away from home, at King Abdullah Sports City, next Monday. Meanwhile, Al Fayha hosts Al Wehda on Tuesday at the Al Majma’ah Sports City Stadium, also in the national league.
🏆| Rushen Professional League
🏁| Round 25
🆚| ◈#Al-Ittihad_Al-Fayhaa◈
• Congratulations to the gold fans ✨ pic.twitter.com/VRE9LeviFg– Al-Ittihad Saudi Club (@ittihad) March 29, 2024
The game
In the 14th minute of the first half, the visiting team opened the scoring with a penalty kick. Sabiri hit the left corner of goalkeeper Al Muaiouf, who hit the corner but did not reach the ball. The home team’s equalizer came at 29, with Hamdallah completing Al Sagour’s cross from the right.
In stoppage time, at 46, Ahmed Al Ghamdi received the ball from Benzema, dodged the defender and scored a beautiful goal to turn the match around. At the end of the second half, in the 49th minute, Al Sahafi took a slight touch to score another for the home team and take Al-Ittihad to their second consecutive victory in the league.
See other results from this Friday’s Saudi Championship:
Al Okhdood 1 x 1 Al Raed
Al Ettifaq 2 x 2 Al Ahli
Damac 0 x 1 Al Khaleej
Al Taawoun 4 x 0 Al Hazem
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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