Houssem Aouar shines as 10-man Al-Ittihad fight back
Houssem Aouar hauled Al-Ittihad back into a tense Saudi Clasico with a decisive equaliser against Al-Hilal, ending a long personal drought in the fixture and underlining his growing influence in midfield.
Houssem Aouar struck in the 53rd minute to level a contest that had quickly tilted against Al-Ittihad.
The Algerian international met a precise cross with a firm header, beating the goalkeeper and reigniting a match shaped by early adversity.
The encounter had begun at a punishing pace. Al-Hilal opened the scoring inside five minutes, and matters worsened for Al-Ittihad when they were reduced to 10 men just four minutes later.
Forced into a defensive posture, Aouar’s side absorbed sustained pressure while attempting to remain compact and disciplined.
Their patience paid off after the break. Full-back Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti delivered a measured ball into the penalty area, where Aouar rose above the defence to head home.
The goal shifted the momentum and injected belief into a side that had spent much of the contest containing their opponents.
For Aouar, the strike carried additional weight. Since arriving from AS Roma in the summer of 2024, he had previously failed to score against Al-Hilal despite multiple meetings.
More than 400 minutes in this rivalry had passed without a decisive contribution, making the equaliser a symbolic breakthrough. It also marked his 10th goal of the season in all competitions.
Beyond the numbers, the moment highlighted Aouar’s growing authority in high-pressure situations. With his team short-handed and chasing the game, he provided a clinical intervention that altered the tone of the contest.
While the overall outcome left mixed feelings, the midfielder’s intervention reinforced his importance within Al-Ittihad’s structure.
The Saudi Clasico again demonstrated how fine margins and individual moments can shape elite fixtures.
In difficult circumstances, Aouar delivered a composed finish that not only revived his team’s hopes but also strengthened his standing as one of the club’s central figures.
