Steven Bergwijn’s hat-trick lifts Al-Ittihad to dramatic win over Al-Hazem

Steven Bergwijn scored a historic hat-trick as Al-Ittihad recovered from two setbacks to beat Al-Hazem 3-2 and move temporarily top of the Roshn Saudi League.

Al-Ittihad now have seven points from their opening three matches, having recorded two victories and one draw. They lead the table by one point from a group of challengers, including Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal.

Al-Hazem made the stronger start and stunned their visitors after 18 minutes. Abdulaziz Al-Duwaish found the net to give the home side an early advantage and put Al-Ittihad under immediate pressure.

The response from Al-Ittihad was led by Bergwijn, who levelled in the 34th minute with a powerful strike that flew into the net. The Netherlands international completed the turnaround just seven minutes later, converting a penalty to put Al-Ittihad 2-1 ahead at the interval.

Al-Hazem refused to fade after the break and continued to threaten the Al-Ittihad defence. Their pressure was rewarded in the 59th minute when Sofiane Bendebka rose to meet a ball inside the penalty area and headed it into the net.

The equaliser restored the tension and left both sides searching for the decisive moment. That opportunity eventually fell to Al-Ittihad when they were awarded another penalty.

Bergwijn stepped up again and calmly sent the ball into the net to complete his treble, secure a 3-2 lead and put his side within sight of three valuable points.

Al-Hazem pushed forward in the closing stages in search of a third equaliser, but Al-Ittihad held on to claim a hard-fought victory. The result came after a demanding contest in which the home team displayed considerable resilience and repeatedly refused to surrender despite falling behind.

Bergwijn’s performance carried particular significance. It was the third hat-trick of his career, but his first since joining Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2024. The three-goal display marked one of his most notable nights for the club and underlined his importance to their attack.

The treble also took Bergwijn’s total for Al-Ittihad to 41 goals since his arrival. It provided further evidence of his scoring influence and his ability to produce decisive moments when his team most needs them.

Al-Ittihad were forced to withstand Al-Hazem’s fightback twice, but Bergwijn’s finishing ultimately proved the difference. The victory strengthened their encouraging start to the season and highlighted the Dutch winger’s capacity to carry the attacking responsibility during the most difficult moments of a match.