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Arab News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
SPL champions-elect Al-Ittihad beat Al-Shabab 3-2 in last away game of the season
RIYADH: In their first match since clinching the Saudi Pro League title last week, Al-Ittihad celebrated with a 3-2 win at Al-Shabab on Tuesday, their final away game of the season. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport French winger Moussa Diaby took center stage, scoring two memorable goals that put the champions-elect in control, the first of which came in the opening minute. The former Aston Villa player, who arrived in Jeddah last summer, picked up possession on the right wing, cut inside the area and then, from a tight angle, fired an unstoppable shot into the opposite top corner. His second, just after the half-hour mark, was delightful in its simplicity. Steven Bergwijn, still inside his own half, lifted the ball over the Riyadh defense to Diaby, who in turn lifted it over the goalkeeper, who was stranded outside his area. Al-Shabab hit back in added time before the break through Yannick Carrasco, who controlled a Musab Al-Juwayr cross at the far post and fired home from close range. Just before the hour mark, however, Bergwijn restored Al-Ittihad's two-goal cushion. As the visitors streamed forward on the counter, N'Golo Kante fed the Dutchman on the left side, who produced another fine finish with a first-time shot. That was not quite the end of the matter, though. Midway through the second half, Cristian Guanca made it 3-2, the Argentine heading home from close range after Daniel Podence hung a cross invitingly in the air. Al-Shabab could not get another, however, and so Al-Ittihad recorded a sixth-successive win, which moved them nine points clear of second-place Al-Hilal, who travel to Al-Wehda on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Al-Qadsiah strengthened their grip on third place, and a spot in the AFC Champions League Two, with a 3-1 home victory over relegation battlers Al-Orubah. Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang contributed two late strikes that put him on 17 goals for the season. Julian Quinones delivered the opener, the Mexican marksman's 20th league goal of the campaign. Al-Qadsiah are now four points clear of fourth-place Al-Nassr, who will have a chance to close the gap when they play host to Al-Khaleej on Wednesday, after which there will be just one round of games left to play.
Arab News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Al-Ittihad crowned as champions after Al-Raed victory
JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad are champions of Saudi Arabia for the 10th time after winning 3-1 at Al-Raed on Thursday. The Tigers are now nine points clear of Al-Hilal and as the second-placed team have just three games remaining and have an inferior head-to-record, there is no way they can catch the leaders. Just two years after their last title triumph, Al-Ittihad now take the Saudi Pro League trophy back to Jeddah and for the rest, the focus is now all about finishing in second and qualifying for the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite. It's now OFFICIAL: @ittihad_en are the 2024/25 #RoshnSaudiLeague champions — Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) May 15, 2025 It looked as if there would be another twist at the top when Oumar Gonzalez put Al-Raed, who are officially relegated, ahead after just nine minutes. The Cameroonian pounced on a rare defensive mistake from N'Golo Kante to fire home from close range. With top scorer Karim Benzema watching injured from the sidelines, there may have been a few concerns but if Laurent Blanc's men were rattled, they didn't let it show as they were back level after just 21 minutes thanks to Steven Bergwijn. Abdulrahman Al-Oboud broke into the right side of the area and squared the ball for the Dutchman who made no mistake. #RoshnSaudiLeague #Alittihad_Alraed For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport — Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) May 15, 2025 It was obvious from the reactions of the Al-Ittihad attackers that they wanted more and they took the lead five minutes before the break. Unai Hernandez swung over a corner from the left and Danilo Pereira was the first to the ball at the near post to head smartly past the 'keeper. From then, it was always going to be difficult for the hosts and it was game over just two minutes after the restart. Bergwijn chipped a pass or a shot through a crowded area and Al-Aboud was there on the goal line to bundle the ball home to seal the win and the title. The t-shirts with 'Champions 25' were soon put on and the celebrations started. They may continue for some time.
Al Arabiya
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Three takeaways: Late drama in Dammam as Al Qadsiah and Al Ittihad draw
A 96th-minute goal from French midfielder N'Golo Kante broke Al Qadsiah hearts on Thursday night as Saudi Pro League leader Al Ittihad snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat. In a remarkable end to the game in Dammam, Al Qadsiah took the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the first minute of stoppage time - only to be denied five minutes later by Kante's intervention. A victory would have propelled Al Qadsiah to within four points of Laurent Blanc's side and right into the thick of the Saudi Pro League title race; instead Al Ittihad maintained its seven-point cushion, though fellow rival Al Hilal could now close that gap this weekend. Here, Al Arabiya English brings you three key takeaways from Al Qadsiah and Al Ittihad's 1-1 draw. A dramatic draw in Dammam Third-placed Al Qadsiah and Saudi Pro League leader Al Ittihad delivered a dose of high drama at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, with the game's thrilling conclusion proving an excellent advert for the Kingdom's top division. For 90 minutes, two of the league's leading teams went toe-to-toe in a hugely entertaining spectacle. But it was the finale that really caused fans to draw their collective breath. With both sides squandering opportunities to score a winner, it appeared the match was heading toward a stalemate. But a slick move from Al Qadsiah saw Uruguay international Nahitan Nández find himself in space down the right and he pulled the ball back into the penalty area. It fell to the ideal individual for Al Qadsiah as captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang used every ounce of his experience to calmly sweep the ball past Al Ittihad goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic. Ex-Arsenal and Barcelona forward Aubameyang has been a vital part of the team's success this season, with the 35-year-old's teammates always quick to praise not only his talent, but the professionalism and hunger he still brings to training each day. On Thursday night, however, Aubameyang's intervention was not a winning one for Al Qadsiah. Al Ittihad had its own Francophone veterans to call on, with Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante combining for the equalizer. Benzema's goal-scoring contributions have been well documented this season, with the striker in second place behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot. But the ex-Real Madrid and France striker has also been a generous provider for his teammates. Only Al Ittihad's Moussa Diaby and Al Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari - both wingers who are expected to contribute assists - have more than Benzema's eight Pro League assists. This time, as the clock ticked down, Benzema kept his cool to swing an inch-perfect cross toward Kante, who stole in at the back post to poke the ball home for the latest of late levelers. Quiñones off color but Casteels calm There were mixed fortunes in Dammam for two of Al Qadsiah's star players this season: striker Julián Quiñones and goalkeeper Koen Casteels. Both have contributed immensely as Michel's side has defied expectations to reach the upper echelons of the Saudi Pro League in its first campaign back in the top flight. Mexico forward Quiñones has been freescoring, netting 20 goals in 24 games in all competitions. But against Ittihad, it was a bad day at the office for the 27-year-old, who arrived from Club America last summer. He had three excellent opportunities to put Al Qadsiah ahead, but thrice failed to convert the chances. Five minutes into the game, Quiñones hammered the ball against the post with the goal at his mercy and minutes later he was superbly denied by young Ittihad defender Muath Faqeehi's last-ditch tackle. Then late in the game, Quiñones was clean through but fluffed his lines - his shot sailing high over the crossbar. Al Qadsiah fans will be quick to forgive, however, as only the second time this season - and first since October - that Quiñones has gone two successive games without scoring. At the other end of the pitch, Al Qadsiah was aided by another heroic display by goalkeeper Koen Casteels. The current Belgium national team No. 1 has kept 13 clean sheets in 24 matches this season, helping Al Qadsiah carve out the Saudi Pro League's best defensive record. For context, second place in the clean sheet rankings is Al Ahli's Edouard Mendy, with four fewer shutouts. On Thursday night, Casteels was in fine form again. He brilliantly tipped Houssem Aouar's spectacular long-range strike over the crossbar and then produced two saves in quick succession as Al Ittihad was probing for the winner in the last couple of minutes of normal time. On both occasions, Casteels superbly denied Steven Bergqijn from point-blank range - getting down low to divert the Dutchman's two efforts away from goal. Kante's late equalizer was particularly cruel for Casteels, who fell agonizingly short of a 14th clean sheet of the season. Title still Al Ittihad's to lose Late drama has now punctuated each of Al Ittihad's past three games. But after previously conceding stoppage-time equalizers to Al Khaleej and Al Akhdoud in potentially damaging draws, the tie in Dammam feels more like a point gained for Laurent Blanc's side. That was certainly the way the French coach saw it after the game. 'The main reason for today's result is the quality of the opponent,' Blanc said. 'We must commend Al Qadsiah and their coach for creating an outstanding team. This is a team that has defeated Al Nasr, then Al Hilal, and other competing teams, and that demands our respect. Despite the draw, I congratulate the players.' If Al Hilal beats Al Fayha on Friday as expected, the gap at the top of the table between leader Al Ittihad and its primary challenger would be reduced to four points. But with Al Hilal also looking increasingly fallible, Al Ittihad's Saudi Pro League title hopes remain firmly in its own hands. Next up for Blanc's side is a home clash with Al Riyadh before its King's Cup semifinal with Al Shabab after the international break. Then comes arguably Al Ittihad's biggest challenge between now and the end of the season - a pivotal Jeddah derby against Al Ahli on April 5. With 10 games of the season, there is no question that the title is Al Ittihad's to lose, but Blanc knows that for the club to win its 10th championship, he will have to coach his players through a pressure-filled period. '[We know] Everyone plays against us with intensity because we are at the top of the table,' Blanc said. 'We are aware of the strength of the competitors and the intensity of the competition. This means that the players must exert their utmost efforts and show their quality.'
Arab News
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Kante snatches a point for Al-Ittihad during frantic finish at Al-Qadsiah
Al-Ittihad rescued a point with a 1-1 draw in their Saudi Pro League clash at Al-Qadsiah on Thursday, thanks to a 96th-minute strike from N'Golo Kante that canceled out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's opening goal, which came just five minutes earlier. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The late equalizer from the former Chelsea and Leicester City midfielder moved Al-Ittihad seven points clear at the top of the table but Al-Hilal have a chance to close the gap to four when they travel to Al-Fayha on Friday. The league leaders have drawn their last three games. Al-Qadsiah, who would have moved into second place with a victory, remain in third, level on points with Al-Hilal. And they should have won, because the visitors were second-best for the majority of the game in Dammam. The hosts dominated the first half to the extent that the visitors from Jeddah would surely have been relieved if they had found themselves only a goal down at the break, yet somehow they were still level at the end of the half. Al-Qadsiah's forwards certainly had their chances but were unable to make them count. Mexican marksman Julian Quinones has been in fine form in the league but could not find a way past Predrag Rajkovic in goal, or the woodwork. It was not only the forwards who missed good chances; defender Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat had a shot cleared off the line. The home side were almost made to pay for their misses when Karim Benzema found Fawaz Al-Saqour unmarked in the area, only for the ball to bounce off his knee with the goal at his mercy. As chances came and went there was always a possibility that Al-Ittihad might snatch a goal. Houssem Aouar, for example, was on target early in the second half with a shot from outside the area, forcing a save from Koen Casteels. Still Al-Qadsiah continued to push forward until finally, in the first minute of added time, they got their just rewards. Nahitan Nandez sent in a low cross into the center of the area from the right and Aubameyang was waiting to guide the ball into the bottom corner of the net with a first-time shot. That looked to be that but while Al-Ittihad might not be at their best right now, their fighting spirit is still very much in evidence. They grabbed their late equalizer when Benzema crossed from the left and found Kante, unmarked inside the six-yard box, who stabbed home to gift his team what had looked to be an unlikely point.
