Moroccan forward Abderrazak Hamdallah led the way as Al-Ittihad secured a 2-0 victory over Riyadh in a Saudi Professional League clash on Sunday.
Hamdallah’s brace, with goals in the 12th and 90+7 minutes, secured the win for Al-Ittihad at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, marking his impactful performance for the team.
The first goal came from a powerful left-footed strike from Hamdallah inside the box, beating Uruguayan goalkeeper Martin Campaña.
The second goal, deep into injury time, was a testament to Hamdallah’s prowess, as he capitalized on Campaña’s forward positioning during a corner kick.
This victory marks Al-Ittihad’s second consecutive win, elevating them to 34 points and solidifying their fifth position in the league table.
They now trail fourth-placed Al-Taawoun by just one point.
Al-Ittihad’s triumph over Riyadh reinforces their dominance over their opponents, as they had previously defeated them with a resounding 4-0 victory in the first round of league matches.
On the other hand, Riyadh’s defeat adds to their struggles in the ongoing league season, as they have now suffered 11 losses and remain stagnant at the 15th position with 19 points.
The timing of this win couldn’t be better for Al-Ittihad, as they prepare to face Navbahor Namangan in the second leg of the AFC Champions League Round of 16 on Thursday at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
The team is poised to seize the opportunity to advance to the quarter-finals after the first leg ended in a goalless draw.
The match against Riyadh also witnessed the return of French forward Karim Benzema to Al-Ittihad’s lineup after recovering from injury, along with Brazilian midfielder Fabinho.
Next, Al-Ittihad will host Al-Wahda on Monday, while Riyadh will face Al-Raed on Friday, both matches being part of the 21st round of league fixtures.
