When Fatigue Takes Center Stage: Ittihad Triumphs as Ronaldo’s Defender Rises
28 October 2025
Fatigue, Not Tactics, Behind the Exit
Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus of Al Nassr lamented their King’s Cup exit at the hands of Al Ittihad, saying physical fatigue and tough conditions played a decisive role and insisting the defeat wasn’t a matter of tactical failure.
On the other side, Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição of Al Ittihad spoke of relief and pride, commending his players for their readiness and resolve despite a dense fixture schedule.
Al Ittihad asserted their authority by knocking out Al Nassr 2-1 in the King’s Cup Round of 16 at The First Park in Riyadh on Tuesday, a result that underscored their strength in a knockout-format clash.
With that victory, Al Ittihad booked the last quarterfinal berth, joining the group of Gulf, Al Fateh, Al Khaleej, Al Ahli, Al Qadsiah, Al Shabab, and Al Hilal as the last eight contenders in the competition.
Match Details
The scoring opened in the 15th minute when Karim Benzema fired home for Al Ittihad after a precise assist from Moussa Diaby inside the box. Al Nassr leveled through Angelo Gabriel in the 30th minute. In stoppage time of the first half, Houssem Aouar struck again to restore the visitors’ lead.
Al Ittihad had to continue with ten men after Ahmed Al Jalidan received a red card in the 49th minute following a challenge on Ayman Yahya.
Previously, Al Nassr had reached the Round of 16 with a big win over Jeddah, while Al Ittihad had advanced through a narrow margin in their own prior tie, setting the stage for a dramatic finish to this round of the competition.
Conceição: We Fought to Win… Refereeing Was Not in Our Favor
Conceição commented in the press conference: “We knew this would be a tough match and prepared accordingly. We fought to win, but the referee did not help us. We faced a strong opponent who has been the league and cup holder for years.”
He added praise for a standout teammate, saying: “Houssam Aouar is a great player, and ever since returning from injury he’s delivering top performances in training and in games.”
Conceição also addressed the limit of the match’s time between fixtures: “The schedule is tight; we must prepare for each game individually. We’ve won one step, but nothing more yet.”
Regarding the performance of the officials, he said: “I don’t like to talk about refereeing, but today’s official did not have a good night. It’s not about a single mistake; it’s about the repetition of errors. The Saudi federation should evaluate refereeing.”
On his admiration for Jorge Jesus in this head-to-head, Conceição stated: “He’s one of the best five coaches in football history; I have the utmost respect for him.”
Details and the Road Ahead
The match’s timeline showed Benzema breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute, followed by Angelo Gabriel’s equalizer for Al Nassr in the 30th. Aouar then put Al Ittihad ahead just before halftime, and the pile-on pressure was compounded by the red card for Al Jalidan in the 49th minute, forcing a 45-minute period of resilience for the hosts.
As the King’s Cup progresses, Al Ittihad joins the seven other teams—Al Khaleej, Al Fateh, Al Khalloud, Al Ahli, Al Qadsiah, Al Shabab, and Al Hilal—in the quarterfinal picture, with the draw slated for the coming days ahead of the next round of fixtures.
Historically, Al Ittihad carry six King’s Cup titles, trailing only Al Hilal (nine) and Al Ahli (eight), with Al Nassr at five titles. The clash also highlighted the ongoing tension between two of Saudi football’s heavyweight clubs, both chasing glory on multiple fronts.
Two light-hearted lines to keep the vibes up after a gripping clash: If fatigue is the culprit, the only thing sprinting is the post-match analysis. And if Ronaldo’s legs are tired, at least his highlights reel has built-in energy bars for the fans.
