Youssef En-Nesyri makes Saudi Pro League history against Al-Hilal

Youssef En-Nesyri scored a landmark goal for Al-Ittihad against Al-Hilal on Saturday, beating Morocco team-mate Yassine Bounou with a spectacular long-range strike in the eighth round of the Roshn Saudi League.

The forward opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after receiving an excellent pass from Marwan Al-Sahafi. En-Nesyri controlled the opportunity before unleashing a powerful shot that flew beyond Bounou and into the net.

According to football statistics provider Opta, it was the first time Al-Ittihad had scored from outside the penalty area against Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League since Saud Abdulhamid found the net in April 2021.

The goal therefore ended a wait of more than five years for an Al-Ittihad strike from outside the box in this fixture, while also giving En-Nesyri a notable place in the history of meetings between the two sides.

En-Nesyri also became the fifth Moroccan player to score against Bounou in the Saudi Pro League. He joined a group made up of fellow Morocco internationals Abderrazak Hamdallah, Karim El Berkaoui, Mourad Batna and Romain Saiss.

The goal carried added significance because of the relationship between En-Nesyri and Bounou, who play together for the Morocco national team. During Saturday’s meeting, however, the pair were on opposite sides, with the Al-Ittihad striker catching the Al-Hilal goalkeeper out with a shot he could not stop.

For En-Nesyri, the finish was more than a successful attempt to put Al-Ittihad ahead in one of the most important matches of the round. It also ended a lengthy statistical drought for his club and placed him among a select group of Moroccan players to have scored against Bounou in the Saudi Pro League.