Victory Sparks Urgent Message: Conceicao Demands Focus as Al-Ittihad Edge Al-Nassr in King’s Cup

Match setting and result

Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, head coach of Al-Ittihad, issued an urgent message to his players after the King’s Cup clash against Al-Nassr, played last night.

They won the match 2-1, at First Park in Riyadh, as part of the Round of 16 in the Saudi King’s Cup.

According to Okaz, Conceicao urged his squad to halt post-win celebrations and seal a quarterfinal berth.

He also asked players to stay focused on upcoming matches in the Roshen Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League to keep a string of results.

Al-Ittihad sit seventh in the Roshen Saudi Pro League with 10 points, and seventh in the AFC Champions League group standings with three points.

Upcoming matches and cup context

Exciting matches await before the international break, which runs from November 10 to 18.

The schedule sees Al-Ittihad visit Gulf on the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, then host Al-Shabab in the Enmaa Stadium in Jeddah, in the fourth round of the AFC Champions League group stage.

After that, the western club faces its derby with Al-Ahli Jeddah at the Enmaa Stadium in Jeddah, in the eighth round of the Roshen Saudi Pro League.

In the King’s Cup quarterfinals, Al-Ittihad was drawn to face Al-Shabab, adding a classic post-season layer to the cup run.

Cup run, goals, and historical context

The club advanced to the quarterfinals with a 2-1 away win over Al-Nassr, Benzema scoring at 15 minutes and Houssem Aouar adding a stoppage-time goal at 45+2, while Angelo Gabriel answered for Al-Nassr at 30.

Al-Shabab clinched the same stage with a 1-0 victory over Al-Zulfi.

Saudi press notes that history tends to favor Al-Ittihad when these two teams clash in the King’s Cup quarterfinals.

The Blues and Tigers have met three times in this stage since 1957, with the 1981 tie going to Al-Ittihad, 1986 ending in a 1-1 and a 4-2 penalty win for Al-Ittihad, and a 2018 quarterfinal where Al-Ittihad triumphed 3-1.

The current edition’s context suggests a similar pendulum, as the teams renewed a rivalry rich in memories and near-misses.

Celebrations, performances, and critique

Fans celebrated Al-Ittihad’s valuable win in the King’s Cup, with the champions continuing their pursuit of another trophy as they navigated a defensively tight match that tested their resilience.

Despite playing with a numerical disadvantage late on, the defending champions remained steady, showcasing a mix of grit and counter-attacking threat that contrasted with a more cautious approach by the opposing side.

Defender Daniello Pereira drew widespread praise for regaining his top form, and some observers recalled his form even during previous fixtures against big opponents.

The Brazilian keeper Bento faced criticism for the two goals conceded to Benzema and Aouar, though supporters argued he could have benefited from better defensive discipline in the build-up.

Jorge Jesus, the opposing coach, faced renewed scrutiny as his tactics were questioned for failing to curb Al-Ittihad’s pace and for a red card that shaped the second half, with some observers suggesting his veteran experience should have carried more influence in such a clash.

Meanwhile, some Al-Nassr fans felt the tactical approach did not maximize the squad’s strengths, and that the manager’s game plan did not tilt the balance in their favor.

As the cup journey continues, analysts highlighted the importance of translating cup momentum into league form and Asia’s premier club competition, where every point and result matters toward season ambitions.

In short, the match was a mix of classic Cup vibes, tactical debates, and a reminder that in knockout football, the clock and the scoreline tend to rewrite the narrative fast.

Punchlines to close with a wink

If football is a joke, the punchline comes in the 90th minute—unless the manager’s whistle is fashionably late, then it becomes a dramatic monologue. And if tactics were dessert, some teams would still ask for the menu to be rewritten after the first bite. Also: footballers run faster on the internet than on the pitch; apparently, the GIFs have better stamina than some players.