Moroccan international striker Youssef En-Nesyri , the star forward for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad, continued his impressive form, showcasing his brilliance and proving his worthiness to wear the club's jersey. En-Nesyri once again found the net in the AFC Champions League , leading his team to a resounding and well-deserved victory, and steadily moving closer to matching the continental scoring record of veteran French star Karim Benzema.
Details of the night of victory in Doha
In a thrilling football match held at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, En-Nesyri capped his outstanding performance with a brilliant goal against Al Sadd, in the eighth and final round of the West Zone group stage. The match, which ended in a resounding 4-1 victory for Al Ittihad, saw the Tigers dominate possession.
Houssem Aouar opened the scoring early in the 10th minute, before Youssef En-Nesyri added a second with a brilliant finish in the 18th minute. Al-Ittihad's pressure continued, resulting in a third goal, an own goal by Al-Sadd's Pedro Miguel in the 33rd minute. In the second half, Stefan Keller completed the rout in the 63rd minute, while Rafa Mojica scored a consolation goal for Al-Sadd in the 38th minute.
Chasing Benzema's numbers and the impact of the deal
With this impressive performance, the Moroccan striker has now contributed to three goals in the continental tournament in just two matches (two goals and one assist). These figures put him just two contributions away from equaling the Asian record held by French striker Karim Benzema, who has five contributions (four goals and one assist) in seven matches, prior to his transfer to Al-Hilal during the winter transfer window, according to the current competition's context.
These figures reflect Al-Nassiri’s meteoric rise, as he has reached a total of 4 goal contributions in his first 4 matches wearing the Al-Ittihad jersey in various competitions, distributed between a goal in the Saudi Roshan League, and a brace and an assist in the Asian arena.
Al-Ittihad and a history of continental glory
The significance of this victory and En-Nesyri's brilliance lies in Al-Ittihad's quest to reclaim its continental glory. Historically, Al-Ittihad is a pillar of Asian football, having previously reigned supreme by winning the AFC Champions League twice consecutively in 2004 and 2005 – an achievement still etched in the memories of its fans. The presence of a prolific striker like En-Nesyri evokes memories of the great forwards who have graced the club's history and contributed to those triumphs.
Technical and moral gains for the Dean
This victory's impact extends beyond just the three points; it also boosts confidence in the team's attacking system. En-Nesyri's quick integration with his teammates, especially Houssem Aouar, sends a reassuring message to Al-Ittihad fans that the team possesses the necessary tools to compete on all fronts this season. The ability to be clinical in front of goal has always been a rare commodity in group stage tournaments, and it seems Al-Ittihad has found its answer in the Moroccan star to continue their journey towards the continental title.
