Youssef En-Nesyri penalty seals Al-Ittihad win over Al-Fayha

Al-Ittihad maintained their winning run with a 2-1 victory over Al-Fayha in the sixth round of the Saudi Pro League on Tuesday, with Youssef En-Nesyri’s second-half penalty settling a closely contested match.

The result moved Al-Ittihad up to third place with 14 points, just one behind leaders Al-Hilal and second-placed Al-Qadsiah. Al-Fayha remain 11th on five points.

Al-Ittihad took the initiative from the opening stages and nearly went ahead after 10 minutes when George Ilenikhena’s effort was saved by Al-Fayha goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.

The visitors responded a minute later through Alfa Semedo, while Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Absi produced an important save in the 35th minute to keep out a shot from Hussein Belharsh.

Al-Ittihad eventually broke the deadlock two minutes before half-time. Ilenikhena met the ball from close range and headed his side in front in the 43rd minute.

Al-Fayha, however, levelled deep into first-half stoppage time. Jason Remeseiro finished from Ahmed Bamassoud’s cross in the fourth minute of added time to send the teams into the interval level.

Al-Ittihad made a change at the start of the second half, with Marwan Al-Sahafi replacing Steven Bergwijn as the home side continued to press for a second goal.

They came close to regaining the lead in the 62nd minute when Deon Lopy’s shot struck the crossbar. Al-Sahafi then missed another opportunity moments later.

The decisive moment came three minutes after that. The referee awarded Al-Ittihad a penalty for a handball by Jason inside the Al-Fayha penalty area following a review by the video assistant referee.

En-Nesyri took responsibility and converted from the spot in the 68th minute to restore Al-Ittihad’s advantage at 2-1.

Al-Fayha pushed forward in search of another equaliser during the closing stages. Fashion Sakala tested Al-Absi in the 77th minute, but the goalkeeper made the save, while Hugo Moura sent an effort over the crossbar eight minutes from time.

Both teams made several substitutions in the final stages, but Al-Ittihad held on to their lead until the final whistle.

The victory extends Al-Ittihad’s momentum after they defeated Al-Nassr by the same scoreline in the previous round. They now sit within a point of the top two, while Al-Fayha will look to recover after suffering another setback in their attempt to climb the table.