Fortress on the Field: Ittihad’s Surgical 3-0 Clinch Over Sharjah in Asia’s Elite Showdown
4 November 2025
Portuguese boss Sergio Conceicao, coach of Al-Ittihad, pinned Sharjah to a suffocating display that stretched the game from touchline to touchline.
Al-Ittihad delivered a precious 3-0 victory over Sharjah at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah, in the Elite AFC Champions League group stage.
The match showcased Ittihad's technical and tactical superiority for the full 90 minutes, with Sharjah barely troubled, thanks to Conceicao's philosophy.
Defensive Trap
Ittihad lined up in a 4-2-3-1, pressing high to squeeze the Sharjah front line and force mistakes.
In the lineup, Conceicao used Fabinho in central defense beside Karlo Simic, which helped the team play out from the back effectively.
The pressing and high line caused Sharjah to be caught offside four times, three in the first half, when the back line pushed out as a unit.
Meanwhile, Ittihad crowded the middle to deny Sharjah space, suffocating any clear build-ups.
Toothless Guest
Sharjah approached the game with a 5-4-1 system, relying on defensive density and retreating lines to limit speed from Ittihad's forwards.
They hoped to strike on the break, especially if Ittihad pressed high, but Conceicao's philosophy of compact defense largely stifled Sharjah's attempts.
The UAE side struggled to construct plays, failing to move the ball five times in a row at least, due to the Saudis' clever positioning and continuous pressure by three attackers.
Disorganized Offense
Ittihad's attack looked lively: continuous movement from the frontline trio, with Bergwijn who would drift from left into the center to boost the attacking density on crosses.
A Dutch winger opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a header, exploiting space ahead of the central defenders.
Disorganization elsewhere allowed Ittihad to continue pressuring the right side, restricting Sharjah's build up.
False Striker
Benzema played a prominent role in Ittihad's win today, acting as a false striker who constantly drifted outside the box to open spaces for Diaby or Bergwijn.
He also helped build attacks from midfield, distributing the ball to the right and left and drawing defenders out of position.
After a series of off-ball movements, he surprised the defense with a second goal, finishing a cross from Diaby.
The Portuguese coach relied on Benzema as a co-pilot on the field, urging players to press relentlessly from the first whistle to the final.
Catastrophic Defense
Sharjah's defense looked chaotic, helping Ittihad to exploit gaps up front.
The back line continually advanced, creating danger from the depth through through balls that fed Ittihad's attack.
That was evident in Benzema's second and the third goal by substitute Roger Fernandes, after Hamid Al-Ghamdi broke through and laid it on the plate.
Disciplined Mindset
Conceicao's fingerprints went beyond tactics; the mental side showed, as Ittihad's players played with sharper focus and resilience.
The Portuguese trainer reshaped the team's identity, turning the Al-Aeed into a cohesive unit that moves together in defense and attack.
He also marshalled physical energy, demanding constant pressure even late in the game, which unsettled Sharjah.
Additionally, Kanté's role in linking lines and cutting passes provided balance in midfield.
This disciplined approach, coupled with a varied attack from depth and wings, marked one of the most complete performances under Conceicao.
It showed Ittihad entering a new phase.
Punchline: If tactical discipline were a dish, Conceicao just served Sharjah a cold soup of defense with a side of zero goals. Not spicy, just solid.
Punchline 2: Sharjah tried to grow a defense, but Ittihad kept trimming it with surgical passes—guess who left with the scoreboard?
