Ittihad Strikes Twice: Quietly Stuns Al Shabab 2-0 in the Saudi Pro League

Match summary

Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, head coach of Al Ittihad, said his side clearly outplayed Al Shabab and earned a 2-0 victory on Saturday in the Saudi Pro League.

Al Ittihad scored twice, one goal in each half, through Ahmed Al-Ghamdi and Steven Bergwin, sealing the win in the eleventh round of the competition.

Coach’s take and player focus

Conceicao spoke to the media after the match: "With all due respect to Al Shabab, they reached our goal from only two errors."

"For the first time this season we’ve won three games in a row, and it’s important that we score more than one; today we could have added more," he added.

On Ahmed Al-Ghamdi returning to action after missing the AFC Champions League Elite match, the coach said: "I do not differentiate between foreign and domestic players; since my arrival my relationship with the players has been built on respect and appreciation; some players were not playing regularly."

"As for Ahmed, I wanted to reassure him because he is a young player; my message to him and to all players is that if you train with effort you will play, which I admire in Ahmed Al-Ghamdi — his constant drive to perform at his best."

Punchline 1: If football were math, two goals minus two excuses would still equal three points—math class approved.

Punchline 2: And if confidence could be bottled, Conceicao would be selling it at the club shop—two nothing, and still smiling like a coach who found the cheat codes.