Moroccan star Youssef En-Nesyri bags hat-trick but Al Ittihad fall to Neom SC

Morocco international Youssef En-Nesyri scored a sensational hat-trick for Al Ittihad, but it was not enough to prevent his outfit from a 4-3 defeat against Neom SC on home turf.

The visitors wasted no time in asserting their dominance in the Saudi Pro League encounter, striking as early as the third minute through Said Benrahma, who stunned the home crowd with a clinical opener. The pressure continued to mount on Al-Ittihad when Luciano Rodríguez doubled Neom’s advantage in the 16th minute, leaving the hosts reeling.

But just when it seemed the game was slipping away, En-Nesyri stepped up. The Moroccan forward ignited the comeback with a well-taken goal in the 38th minute before striking again moments later to level the score before halftime, showcasing his predatory instincts and composure in front of goal.

Riding on that momentum, Al-Ittihad turned the game on its head early in the second half. Houssem Aouar put the hosts ahead for the first time in the 49th minute, capping off a remarkable turnaround and seemingly putting them in control.

However, the drama was far from over. Neom responded swiftly, with Muhannad Al-Saad restoring parity in the 55th minute in a match that refused to settle.

As both sides pushed for a winner, it was Neom who delivered the decisive blow. Deep into stoppage time, Alaa Al-Hajji emerged as the hero, firing home a dramatic late goal to seal all three points in a seven-goal thriller.

Despite En-Nesyri’s brilliance—completing his hat-trick and leading the fightback—Al-Ittihad were left empty-handed, a result that underlined the cruel nature of football.

The victory lifts Neom to eighth place with 39 points, while Al-Ittihad remain sixth on 45 points, left to rue missed opportunities on a night when individual brilliance wasn’t quite enough to secure a result.