Al-Ittihad secured a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Al-Nasr on Friday evening at the Shining Jewel Stadium in the 13th round of the Saudi Pro League.
Karim Benzema opened the scoring for Al-Ittihad in the 55th minute, but Al-Nassr quickly responded just two minutes later with an equalizer from Cristiano Ronaldo. The decisive moment came in the first minute of stoppage time, as Dutchman Steven Bergwijn netted the winning goal to secure a dramatic victory for Al-Ittihad.
The win elevated Al-Ittihad to the top of the league table with 36 points, marking their 12th victory this season alongside a single defeat. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr’s tally remained at 25 points in fourth place, with seven wins, four draws, and now two losses.
Cautious First Half
The match began with both teams adopting a cautious approach, carefully balancing their offensive and defensive strategies. Early attempts were scarce, with neither side creating significant chances in the opening minutes.
Al-Nassr’s first real opportunity came from a free kick executed by Cristiano Ronaldo, who passed the ball to Angelo. The Brazilian sent a header across the box, but it lacked a finishing touch.
In the 24th minute, Al-Ittihad thought they had taken the lead when Karim Benzema found the back of the net, but the goal was disallowed due to offside. Shortly after, Steven Bergwijn unleashed a shot in the 26th minute, only to be denied by Al-Nassr goalkeeper David Ospina.
Benzema nearly broke the deadlock with a powerful strike following a setup from Bergwijn, but Ospina was again up to the task, pushing the ball out for a corner.
Al-Nassr’s best chance of the half fell to Sadio Mané, who skillfully dribbled past the goalkeeper but stumbled before he could take a decisive shot, squandering a golden opportunity. The first half ended goalless.
Action-Packed Second Half
The intensity ramped up after the break. Al-Ittihad took the lead in the 55th minute when Benzema capitalized on loose marking to slot home a cross from Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti.
Al-Nassr wasted no time responding, levelling the score just two minutes later. Ronaldo pounced on a low cross, delivering a precise finish to bring his team back into the contest.
The match grew more physical as referee Facundo Tello issued five yellow cards in the second half—three for Al-Ittihad (Danilo, Bergwijn, and Benzema) and two for Al-Nassr (Aymeric Laporte and Benzema).
Al-Ittihad’s counterattacks proved a constant threat, with their swift transitions involving multiple players. This tactical edge allowed Laurent Blanc’s side to dominate the latter stages.
Dramatic Finish
In the first minute of stoppage time, Bergwijn delivered the decisive moment. His well-placed shot into the far left corner of Ospina’s net secured a dramatic victory for Al-Ittihad.
Despite six minutes of added time, Al-Nassr struggled to find a breakthrough. Their attacking efforts lacked sharpness against a resilient Al-Ittihad defence, sealing the result for the home team.
Al-Ittihad’s triumph further solidifies their position as title contenders, while Al-Nassr will look to regroup and address their shortcomings in the coming fixtures.
