KSAsportz report
JEDDAH — In an intense clash at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Al Ittihad Club secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Uzbekistan’s PFC Nasaf in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 on Tuesday night. This win marks a significant turnaround for the Saudi Pro League side after previous setbacks in the tournament.
Captain Karim Benzema’s second-half volley was the difference-maker, pushing Al Ittihad’s total points to nine in the group stage standings. This result effectively extinguished Nasaf’s hopes of advancing to the Round of 16, leaving them without a single point after three matches, a stark contrast to Al Ittihad’s performance.
Nasaf entered the match desperate for a breakthrough and relied heavily on goalkeeper Abduvakhid Nematov. In a crucial moment early in the game, the Uzbek shot-stopper showcased his skills by deflecting an effort from Ahmed Al Ghamdi onto the post in the eighth minute.
Though Al Ittihad enjoyed 63% possession, they struggled to penetrate Nasaf’s defense in the first half. Meanwhile, the visitors created sporadic threats, with players like Sadorbek Bakhromov and Oybek Bozorov testing the alertness of goalkeeper Pedrag Rajkovic.
The frustration mounted for the home side as they were denied by the woodwork for a second time four minutes before the halftime whistle. Nematov had initially parried a cross from Moussa Diaby, but Benzema’s follow-up attempt hit the upright.
Head coach Sergio Conceicao made tactical adjustments after the break, positioning Fabinho into midfield and introducing Roger Fernandes on the left — a move that quickly paid off. In the 57th minute, Fernandes delivered an exquisite cross to the back post, where Benzema volleyed it home, igniting celebrations among the Jeddah crowd.
Nasaf nearly levelled the score in the 77th minute when Adenis Shala broke through on the counterattack; however, Rajkovic was up to the task, blocking the attempted chip with a skilled save.
As the match progressed, Al Ittihad continued to search for a second goal and struck the woodwork a third time as Nematov tipped a Benzema header onto the bar. The home side faced a moment of adversity when substitute Faisal Al Ghamdi was forced off due to injury just five minutes after entering the match, leaving them with 10 men.
Despite the setback, Al Ittihad managed to maintain control in the closing stages, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory. The match statistics underscore their dominance, with the Saudi club outshooting Nasaf 15 to 6, further validating their performance on the field.