KSAsportz report
JEDDAH — In a thrilling matchup in the Roshn Saudi League, Al Ittihad showcased their resilience by defeating Al Fateh 4-2 at Alinma Stadium on Friday night. This victory comes as a testament to their depth, even in the absence of star striker Karim Benzema, who had previously scored a hat trick in his debut week.
Statistics reveal that Al Ittihad now leads the league standings with six points from two matches, having scored a remarkable nine goals already. Steven Bergwijn emerged as the hero of the night, netting two goals in a decisive four-minute span before halftime, reversing the game’s momentum.
Al Fateh initially took the lead with Houssem Aouar’s goal in the 22nd minute, but Matias Vargas equalized just before the half-hour mark. Bergwijn’s timely brace, with goals at the 35th and 39th minutes, restored Ittihad’s advantage.
The match took a turn for the worse for Al Fateh when Mourad Batna received a red card just before halftime. The visitors’ situation worsened further when Ittihad’s goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic was also sent off in the second half for a foul on Fahad Al Zubaidi. Sofiane Bendebka capitalized on this opportunity, converting the penalty and narrowing the score to 3-2.
The dramatic contest concluded in stoppage time, with Muhannad Al Shanqeeti sealing the win for Al Ittihad. This marked Ittihad’s second consecutive win, affirming their spot at the top of the standings.
Al Ittihad’s head coach, Laurent Blanc, who was honored pre-match with the 2024-25 RSL Manager of the Season award, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and offensive prowess despite Benzema’s absence.
In other league action, Asian champions Al Ahli were held to a 0-0 draw against Al Ettifaq, while Al Shabab secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Al Hazem in Riyadh, thanks to an efficient finish by Yannick Carrasco after the hour mark.