Derby Drama: Al-Ittihad Dethrones Al-Nassr in the King’s Cup
28 October 2025
In a night of classic rivalry, Al-Ittihad edged Al-Nassr 2-1 in Riyadh to exit the King’s Cup last-16 and book a place in the quarterfinals.
The visitors struck first through Karim Benzema, who opened the scoring in the 15th minute, finishing a precise cross from Musa Diaby inside the box. Al-Nassr equalized in the 30th minute through Angelo Gabriel, a strike that leveled the contest and set the stage for a tense remainder.
The turning point came in the 49th minute when Ahmed Al-Jalidan received a red card, leaving Al-Ittihad with ten men and forcing a difficult defensive stand for the remainder of the match. Cristiano Ronaldo continued to press for chances for Al-Nassr, but the Ittihad defense held firm and denied a second goal.
Two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half, Houssam Aouar finished with composure after a well-orchestrated move to restore the lead at 2-1, a cushion the hosts would defend through the second half.
Opening Burst and Lead
The early minutes saw intense pressure from Al-Ittihad, with Benzema testing the goalkeeper and Diaby delivering a dangerous ball into the box. The opener arrived in the 15th minute when Benzema converted a cross from Diaby to put the visitors ahead.
By the 20th minute, another clever setup threatened to extend the lead, but the ball slid just wide as the defense cleared in time. Al-Nassr’s response came at the half-hour mark as Angelo Gabriel beat the offside trap and finished past the keeper to level the score.
Red Card and the Turn of Tide
The match took a dramatic turn moments after the restart when Ahmed Al-Jalidan was dismissed for a late challenge, leaving Al-Ittihad a man down but still determined to protect their lead. Ronaldo kept peppering the Ittihad goal with attempts, yet their defense and goalkeeper stood tall, keeping the scoreboard steady.
Aouar Seals the Win
In first-half stoppage time, Aouar showed composure to convert a through-ball and restore the advantage at 2-1, a goal that proved decisive as both sides traded attempts in a frantic second period.
Al-Ittihad clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory and advanced to the King’s Cup quarterfinals alongside other Saudi clubs, celebrating a results-rich derby night and a performance that mixed resilience with moments of flair.
Punchline 1: If this derby had a GPS, it would say, “Recalculating: the lead keeps changing, but the punchlines stay the same.”
Punchline 2: They say football is a game of two halves; tonight it was a game of one-and-a-bit halves, with a red card as the dramatic intermission and Benzema bringing the first act to life.
