Remontada of the Night: Ittihad's 4-4 Thriller Sparks a Saudi Pro League Classic
1 November 2025
Remontada of a Lifetime
In a display of drama worthy of football legends, Al-Ittihad Jeddah ripped up the script and staged one of the season’s most remarkable remontadas, snatching a 4-4 draw from Al-Khaleej in Round 7 of the Saudi Pro League. The hosts surged ahead early, and by halftime had a four-goal cushion that left the visitors gasping for air.
Joshua King opened the scoring in the 14th minute, with Fortounis doubling the lead in the 18th. Al-Khaleej found a third in the 37th minute through a Fortounis penalty, and King capped the first-half onslaught with a second goal in the 47th. The sequence left Ittihad facing a monumental challenge, heading into the break with a daunting deficit.
Things then took a wild turn after the restart when a red card to Fabinho in the 32nd minute reduced Ittihad to ten men, complicating their task yet fueling their resolve to chase the result.
Lineups, Key Moments and a Night of Swinging Fortunes
Coach Sergio Conceicao named his side without captain Karim Benzema, who missed a third league game this season. In goal, Predrag Rajkovic guarded the net, with a defensive line that included Ahmed Al-Jelidan, Danilo Pereira, Saad Al-Mousa and Mario Mitay. The midfield trio consisted of N'Golo Kanté, Fabinho and Houssam Awar, while the attack featured Moussa Diaby, Saleh Al-Shehri and Roger Fernandes.
Al-Khaleej set the pace with Anthony Morris in goal and a well-drilled defense, then proceeded to add two more to their tally before the hour mark, extending the lead to 4-0 by the 47th minute. Diaby’s 50th-minute strike sparked the turnaround, followed by further late goals that kept the fantasy alive for Ittihad fans.
As the clock ticked on, Diaby struck again in the 86th, with Meita and Al-Ghamdi adding late showings at 90+5 and 90+8 respectively to force a sensational, late equalizer and a result that felt more like a win for the trailing side on the night.
What It Means for the Table
The dramatic draw kept Ittihad in eighth place on 11 points, while Al-Khaleej sat seventh with the same tally. The night’s twists underscored the competitiveness of the Saudi Pro League and reminded everyone that football rewards resilience as much as it punishes complacency.
In the end, it wasn’t just a football match; it was a reminder that in this league, the scoreline can flip faster than a goalkeeper’s cap, and the fan base loves a good comeback more than a clean sheet.
Sniper punchlines coming your way: That comeback had more twists than a pretzel factory—talk about a bite-sized drama in 90-plus minutes. And if this is Benzema’s training for the bench, he’s clearly getting paid to dream in high definition—with very loud supporters for company.
