Houssem Aouar made his long-awaited return to action on Tuesday, featuring in Al Ittihad’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Al Shabab in the semi-finals of the Saudi King’s Cup.
The Algerian midfielder had been sidelined for nearly three weeks due to a muscle injury sustained in the match against Al-Riyadh on March 13.
Aouar’s Impactful Return
Introduced in the 59th minute by head coach Laurent Blanc, Aouar provided a crucial boost to his side’s midfield as Al Ittihad launched a late comeback to book their place in the final.
Despite his limited time on the pitch, the former Lyon player showed promising signs, contributing to his team’s increased attacking pressure in the closing stages.
With Al Ittihad trailing 2-1 as the match entered its final quarter, the tide turned in dramatic fashion. Portuguese midfielder Danilo Pereira emerged as the hero, netting twice in stoppage time (90+2’ and 90+9’) to complete a stunning turnaround. The victory secured Al Ittihad’s first appearance in the King’s Cup final in six years.
Final Showdown Awaits
Aouar and his teammates will now await the outcome of the other semi-final clash between Al Raed and Al Qadisiyah to determine their opponent in the final.
The Jeddah-based club, eager to end a seven-season wait for silverware in the competition, will hope that Aouar’s return to full fitness can provide them with an additional edge as they prepare for the decisive showdown.
