Benzema’s Quiet Night, Yet Al-Ittihad Keeps It Together: A Saudi Pro League Draw

Match Recap

Al-Ittihad’s uneven form persisted as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Al-Fayha on Friday, in round five of the Saudi Pro League.

Al-Fayha struck first in the 45th minute through Sakala, who benefited from a precise pass from Jason and beat the defense before firing into the net.

In the second half, Al-Ittihad pushed hard to get back into the game, equalising in the 64th minute via Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, after a superb cross from Moussa Diaby that Al-Ghamdi headed home.

With this result, Al-Ittihad continued their points bleed, sitting second in the table on 10 points, while Al-Fayha moved to eight points in ninth place.

Before this, Al-Ittihad had lost to Al-Nassr in the Clasico (0-2), before drawing with Al-Fayha in this round.

It was the first appearance of Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição as head coach of Al-Ittihad, since taking over officially on October 8, replacing Frenchman Laurent Blanc who was dismissed after the defeat to Al-Nassr.

Conceição named Predrag Rajković in goal, with a back four of Ahmed Al-Jalidan, Hassan Kadish, Danilo Pereira and Saad Al-Mousa.

In midfield, they lined up with Fabinho Tevaris, N'Golo Kanté, and Faisal Al-Ghamdi, while leading the attack with Moussa Diaby, Steven Bergwijn, and Karim Benzema.

Early Dominance from Al-Fayha

The match started at a fast tempo with Al-Fayha pressing Al-Ittihad's defense, seeking an opener as early as the second minute through a powerful shot by Fashon Sakala inside the box, saved by the defense.

In the fifth minute Sakala again threatened with a powerful strike from outside the area, though the ball sailed over the bar.

Al-Ittihad replied quickly with a dangerous chance in the sixth minute, after Moussa Diaby’s cross found Karim Benzema in the box; the Frenchman twice drilled towards goal, but the keeper blocked both efforts.

In the 22nd minute, Steven Bergwijn unleashed a wicked shot from the right, grazing the left post.

Al-Fayha’s response came in the 32nd minute from a well-worked corner that found Silvir Janfola, who struck a rocket over the bar for the visitors’ best chance of the first half.

The half closed with a bold effort from Moussa Diaby in the 38th minute, a long-range strike that was neatly saved by the goalkeeper.

Openings and Equilibrium

Right at the end of the half, in the 45th minute, Al-Fayha broke the deadlock through Fashon Sakala, who received a delightful pass from Jason, burst into the box and fired past the defense.

In added time (45+8) Hassan Kadish tried to level for Al-Ittihad, blasting a shot from inside the box, but the Al-Fayha defense blocked it to keep their lead going into the break.

Second half: Al-Fayha created a few threats early on but could not convert as the better chance came at 61 with a header from Jason just wide.

Al-Ittihad responded swiftly in the 64th minute when Ahmed Al-Ghamdi headed in from a precise cross by Moussa Diaby to make it 1-1.

Al-Fayha pressed again in the 68th, but goalkeeper Predrag Rajković produced a superb save against Yasin Ben Ziya.

In the 88th minute, Al-Ittihad were awarded a controversial penalty after Karim Benzema caused it, but the French striker failed to convert, as the keeper saved it. The visitors would leave with a point despite the late drama.

In the 90+2, Benzema again tested the keeper with a powerful strike from inside the box, but the Al-Fayha custodian kept the ball out. And in the 90+7, Mohamed Doumbia unleashed a powerful drive from outside the area, only for it to fly over the bar, denying the late winner.

Punchlines: If Benzema bought a map, it would still fail to find the back of the net—maybe he needs a better GPS than his passes. Also, the sniper’s joke: tonight Benzema aimed for glory and found the keeper’s gloves instead.