Summary of the Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Hilal match: Al-Ittihad gifts Al-Nassr the top spot in Roshan
In a breathtaking football match held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Al-Ittihad managed to secure a thrilling 1-1 draw against their hosts, Al-Hilal, in the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League, coinciding with the Kingdom's celebrations of its National Day. This result was more than just a draw; it had seismic repercussions on the league standings, knocking Al-Hilal off the top spot and handing the lead to their arch-rivals, Al-Nassr.
A fiery start and an early turn
The match witnessed a strong and rapid start from Al-Hilal, who entered the game determined to settle matters early, taking advantage of playing at home in front of their fans. Al-Hilal's response was swift, with Brazilian star Malcom opening the scoring in just the fifth minute, capitalizing on a brilliant pass from his teammate Salem Al-Dawsari to slot the ball into the net to the left of goalkeeper Rajkovic. Al-Ittihad's woes deepened in the ninth minute when the referee showed a red card to defender Hassan Kadash for bringing down Malcom, who was through on goal, forcing Al-Ittihad to play with ten men for over 80 minutes.
The spirit of Al-Ittihad comesback
Despite the numerical disadvantage that usually frustrates teams, Al-Ittihad displayed the character of champions and remarkable tactical cohesion. In the second half, from a well-organized attack that reflected the coach's excellent tactical work, Muhannad Al-Shanqiti delivered a perfect cross which new signing Houssem Aouar met with a brilliant header, converting it into the back of the Al-Hilal net to equalize in the 53rd minute. Al-Ittihad didn't just defend; they almost doubled their lead through Youssef En-Nesyri, but for the brilliance of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who saved his team from a certain goal, ending the match in a draw.
The dimensions of El Clásico and its impact on the competition
This draw comes within a historical context that reflects the intensity of the rivalry in the "Saudi Clasico," considered one of the fiercest derbies in the Arab world and Asia. This match gains particular significance as it comes amidst the major sporting boom the Kingdom is experiencing, with the world's attention now focused on the Roshan League. Al-Ittihad's resilience with ten men at the Kingdom Arena sends a powerful message about the Jeddah team's renewed spirit and their desire to improve their position, despite being out of direct contention for the title this season.
Earthquake in the standings
This draw cast a long shadow over the heated title race. With this result, Al-Hilal stumbled to their sixth draw of the season, bringing their points tally to 54 and dropping them to second place, relinquishing the top spot to Al-Nassr, who capitalized on this valuable gift. Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad increased their points to 38, maintaining their sixth position. This dramatic shift in the standings will intensify the competition in the remaining rounds, as both Riyadh giants can no longer afford any slip-ups in their quest to win the coveted league title.
