Latest news with #SaudiCup
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Benzema Sparks Al Ittihad, Double Dream Delivered
TDT | Manama Benzema's Magic Al Ittihad fans are still in high spirits after their team won the Saudi Cup with a 3-1 win over Al Qadsiah on Friday night, sealing a domestic double in style. Karim Benzema, the former Real Madrid star, was the hero in Jeddah, bagging a brace to guide Laurent Blanc's side to their 10th cup success. It was a fitting end to a season where they also claimed the Saudi Pro League title. The final wasn't without its drama, with Al Qadsiah down to 10 men late on, but Al Ittihad's class shone through. Benzema, fresh off being named the league's Player of the Season, proved why he's still one of the game's elite, delivering when it mattered most. Final Full of Twists The game at King Abdullah Sports City had its cagey moments early on. Moussa Diaby could've put Al Ittihad ahead in the 21st minute but fluffed his lines. Al Qadsiah had a scare when Nacho's handball in the box went unpunished after a VAR check. Then, in the 34th minute, Benzema broke the deadlock, coolly chesting in a perfect cross from Steven Bergwijn to get the fans going. Houssem Aouar made it 2-0 just before the break, slotting home after Al Qadsiah's keeper Koen Casteels parried a Benzema header. The underdogs hit back in stoppage time with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converting a penalty, giving them a glimmer of hope going into the second half. Benzema Puts It to Bed After the interval, Al Ittihad played it smart, with Benzema rattling the bar as they pushed for a third. Al Qadsiah stayed in the fight, and Aubameyang forced a sharp save from Predrag Rajkovic. But the game swung decisively when Ezequiel Fernandez picked up a second yellow in the 81st minute, leaving Al Qadsiah a man short. Benzema made them pay in stoppage time, firing in a low cross from Diaby to seal the deal. Aubameyang struck the woodwork late on, but Al Ittihad's defence held strong. It was a performance that mixed discipline with flair, exactly what Blanc has drilled into this squad.
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Karim Benzema leads Al-Ittihad to thrilling Saudi Cup win and domestic double
Al-Ittihad's Karim Benzema scored twice to lead his side to a 3-1 victory over Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Cup final on Friday as they completed the domestic double. Laurent Blanc's side dominated the game to win the cup for the 10th time, while Al-Qadsiah finished the game with 10 men after Ezequiel Fernandez was sent off in the 81st minute. Moussa Diaby nearly put Al-Ittihad ahead but missed a chance in the 21st minute. Al-Qadsiah's former Spain defender Nacho escaped conceding a penalty when the ball touched his hand, but the referee didn't award a spot kick despite a VAR check in the 32nd minute. Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema poses for a picture with fans after winning the Saudi King's Cup. Reuters Benzema opened the scoring for the Saudi Pro League champions, using his chest to convert Steven Bergwijn's precise cross 11 minutes before the interval. Houssem Aouar made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute by following up after Koen Casteels saved a header from Benzema. Al-Qadsiah's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. Benzema, who won the SPL Player of the Season, hit the bar after the break, but Al-Ittihad were more cautious as they looked to maintain their lead. Ittihad's supporters cheer for their team after winning the King's Cup final match against Qadsiah FC in Jeddah on May 30, 2025. Agence France-Presse Al-Ittihad keeper Predrag Rajkovic saved Aubameyang's shot in the 80th minute and Al-Qadsiah suffered a big blow when Ezequiel Fernandez received a second yellow card, forcing them to play with 10 men for the final minutes. Then 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Benzema scored his side's third goal, firing in Diaby's low cross in stoppage time, before Aubameyang's shot hit the woodwork. Reuters
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Benzema leads Al-Ittihad to Saudi Cup win and domestic double
RIYADH: Ittihad's Club President Loay Mashabi (right) and his team's French forward Karim Benzema pose with the championship trophy next to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the podium ceremony after the King's Cup final at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah on May 30, 2025. - AFP RIYADH: Al-Ittihad's Karim Benzema scored twice to lead his side to a 3-1 victory over Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Cup final on Friday as they completed the domestic double. Laurent Blanc's side dominated the game to win the cup for the 10th time, while Al-Qadsiah finished the game with 10 men after Ezequiel Fernandez was sent off in the 81st minute. Moussa Diaby nearly put Al-Ittihad ahead but missed a chance in the 21st minute. Al-Qadsiah's former Spain defender Nacho escaped conceding a penalty when the ball touched his hand, but the referee didn't award a spot kick despite a VAR check in the 32nd minute. Benzema opened the scoring for the Saudi Pro League champions, using his chest to convert Steven Bergwijn's precise cross 11 minutes before the interval. Houssem Aouar made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute by following up after Koen Casteels saved a header from Benzema. Al-Qadsiah's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. Benzema, who won the SPL Player of the Season, hit the bar after the break, but Al-Ittihad were more cautious as they looked to maintain their lead. Al-Ittihad keeper Predrag Rajkovic saved Aubameyang's shot in the 80th minute and Al-Qadsiah suffered a big blow when Ezequiel Fernandez received a second yellow card, forcing them to play with 10 men for the final minutes. Then 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Benzema scored his side's third goal, firing in Diaby's low cross in stoppage time, before Aubameyang's shot hit the woodwork. — Reuters
Observer
2 days ago
- Sport
- Observer
Benzema leads Al Ittihad to Saudi Cup win
Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema scored twice to lead his side to a 3-1 victory over Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Cup final on Friday as they completed the domestic double. Laurent Blanc's side dominated the game to win the cup for the 10th time, while Al Qadsiah finished the game with 10 men after Ezequiel Fernandez was sent off in the 81st minute. Moussa Diaby nearly put Al Ittihad ahead but missed a chance in the 21st minute. Al Qadsiah's former Spain defender Nacho escaped conceding a penalty when the ball touched his hand, but the referee didn't award a spot kick despite a VAR check in the 32nd minute. Benzema opened the scoring for the Saudi Pro League champions, using his chest to convert Steven Bergwijn's precise cross 11 minutes before the interval. Houssem Aouar made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute by following up after Koen Casteels saved a header from Benzema. Al Qadsiah's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. Benzema, who won the SPL Player of the Season, hit the bar after the break, but Al Ittihad were more cautious as they looked to maintain their lead. Al Ittihad keeper Predrag Rajkovic saved Aubameyang's shot in the 80th minute and Al Qadsiah suffered a big blow when Ezequiel Fernandez received a second yellow card, forcing them to play with 10 men for the final minutes. Then 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Benzema scored his side's third goal, firing in Diaby's low cross in stoppage time, before Aubameyang's shot hit the woodwork. — Reuters
Egypt Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- Egypt Today
Benzema leads Al-Ittihad to Saudi Cup win and domestic double
Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema lifts the trophy after winning the Saudi Pro League REUTERS/Stringer (Reuters) - Al-Ittihad's Karim Benzema scored twice to lead his side to a 3-1 victory over Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Cup final on Friday as they completed the domestic double. Laurent Blanc's side dominated the game to win the cup for the 10th time, while Al-Qadsiah finished the game with 10 men after Ezequiel Fernandez was sent off in the 81st minute. Moussa Diaby nearly put Al-Ittihad ahead but missed a chance in the 21st minute. Al-Qadsiah's former Spain defender Nacho escaped conceding a penalty when the ball touched his hand, but the referee didn't award a spot kick despite a VAR check in the 32nd minute. Benzema opened the scoring for the Saudi Pro League champions, using his chest to convert Steven Bergwijn's precise cross 11 minutes before the interval. Houssem Aouar made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute by following up after Koen Casteels saved a header from Benzema. Al-Qadsiah's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. Benzema, who won the SPL Player of the Season, hit the bar after the break, but Al-Ittihad were more cautious as they looked to maintain their lead. Al-Ittihad keeper Predrag Rajkovic saved Aubameyang's shot in the 80th minute and Al-Qadsiah suffered a big blow when Ezequiel Fernandez received a second yellow card, forcing them to play with 10 men for the final minutes. Then 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Benzema scored his side's third goal, firing in Diaby's low cross in stoppage time, before Aubameyang's shot hit the woodwork.
