Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong found the back of the net, but his effort was ultimately not enough as Al Ittihad staged a thrilling comeback to edge Al Kholood 4-3 on Saturday.
Al Kholood entered the contest brimming with confidence, fresh from a 2-1 triumph over Al-Raed in their previous Saudi Pro League outing. Meanwhile, Al Ittihad were desperate to secure a win, having suffered only their second loss of the season at the hands of Damac FC.
Al Kholood made a blistering start, racing to a two-goal advantage within the opening 23 minutes. Troost-Ekong broke the deadlock in the 15th minute, expertly heading his side into the lead, before Myziane Maolida doubled the tally eight minutes later.
Undaunted by the early deficit, Al Ittihad showcased remarkable resilience, fighting back to level the scoreline. Abdurahman Al-Obood’s 35th-minute goal halved the deficit, and just when it seemed the first half would end with Al Kholood ahead, Steven Bergwijn converted a penalty in the ninth minute of added time to restore parity.
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Emboldened by their spirited first-half comeback, Al Ittihad carried the momentum into the second half, picking up where they left off. Hasan Kadesh’s clinical strike in the 47th minute propelled Al Ittihad into the lead, completing their remarkable turnaround before Steven Bergwijn scored his second goal to extend the scoreline.
Al Kholood attempted to mount a late resurgence, with Myziane Maolida scoring his second goal to narrow the deficit. However, his effort ultimately proved too late, as Al Ittihad held firm to claim a hard-fought 4-3 victory and secure all three points.
The thrilling 4-3 victory propelled Al Ittihad to 46 points, drawing them level with Saudi Pro League table-toppers Al Hilal. However, Al Ittihad remain in second place, narrowly trailing Al Hilal due to an inferior goal difference.
Despite the setback, Al Kholood remain 12th on the Saudi Pro league table, with 19 points accumulated from 12 matches, maintaining a five-point cushion above the relegation zone.
Next up, Al Ittihad will face a stern test on the road as they travel to take on Al-Taawoun, seeking to extend their winning momentum. Meanwhile, Al Kholood will aim to swiftly bounce back from their heartbreaking defeat as they host Al Riyadh in their upcoming fixture.
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