Houssem Aouar makes history with Al-Ittihad with an exceptional Asian hat-trick
On an unforgettable football night at the “Radiant Jewel” stadium in King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Algerian star Houssem Aouar his name in gold in the history of Al-Ittihad Saudi Club, during the fiery encounter that brought together “Al-Ameed” with its Qatari counterpart Al-Gharafa in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League for Elite.
Aouar led his team to a resounding victory with a score of (7-0), delivering an exceptional performance crowned by scoring a historic hat-trick, thus confirming the great technical value he has added to the Tigers squad since joining the team from European stadiums.
Details of the historic Seven Nights
The goal fest began early with Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri scoring in the third minute, before Houssem Aouar exploded with a hat-trick in the 20th, 58th and 79th minutes. Al-Ittihad's attacking machine didn't stop there, as Roger Fernandez added two goals in the 49th and 62nd minutes, and Danilo Pereira scored in the 51st minute, announcing Al-Ittihad as a fierce contender for the continental title.
Awar breaks the long-standing records
According to Opta, the global sports statistics network, Houssem Aouar's achievement wasn't just about scoring goals; it was about rewriting Al-Ittihad's continental records. Aouar became the first foreign player in the club's history to score a hat-trick in a single AFC Champions League match, breaking the dominance of local players in this regard.
With this achievement, the Algerian star joins the list of Al-Ittihad legends who preceded him in this feat, becoming the fourth player in the club's history to achieve an Asian hat-trick, after:
- Marzouq Al-Otaibi (2004).
- Naif Hazazi (2009).
- The legend Mohammed Noor (2009).
Aouar did not stop there, but statistics indicated that he became the first Al-Ittihad player to contribute to 4 goals in one match (scoring 3 and creating clear chances) since these data began to be tracked in detail in 2013, which reflects the comprehensiveness of his performance and his direct impact on the attacking system.
Historical context and the impact of winning
This resounding victory brings back memories of the golden generation of Al-Ittihad, who dominated the Asian continent and won the title twice in a row in 2004 and 2005. This victory carries important implications at the regional level, as it sends a strong message to all competitors in the West Asia region that “Al-Ittihad” is determined to restore its continental glory in the new edition of the tournament (the elite).
This performance also reflects the success of the club’s sporting project in attracting world-class names capable of making a difference, as the new signings, most notably Aouar and En-Nesyri, have demonstrated rapid integration and high effectiveness, which enhances the chances of Saudi clubs dominating continental championships, in line with the major sporting boom that the Kingdom is witnessing.
