Al-Ittihad’s FIFA Club World Cup hopes dashed by Al-Ahly

The home fans will point to a first half missed penalty from Karim Benzema as a turning point. (Reuters)
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Updated 16 December 2023
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Al-Ittihad’s FIFA Club World Cup hopes dashed by Al-Ahly

  • Though the game hung in the balance for an hour, the Egyptian side were too clinical for the reigning Saudi champions and eventually ran out 3-1 winners
  • Al-Ahly’s reward is a semi-final against Fluminense of Brazil on Monday, while Al-Ittihad’s focus shifts to three league games in the space of a week before the end of the year

Al-Ittihad’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign ended on Friday with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Al-Ahly in their second-round clash in Jeddah.

Thousands of the Egyptian side’s supporters were on their feet for much of the 90 minutes at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium, as their team ultimately proved to be too clinical for the reigning Saudi champions to cope with.

Al-Ittihad fans might point to Karim Benzema’s missed penalty in the first half as a turning point but the empty seats in the home section of the stadium when the final whistle sounded told their own story.

The reward for the African champions is a semi-final showdown with South American champions Fluminense of Brazil on Monday. Al-Ittihad, who defeated Auckland City from New Zealand 3-0 in the first round of the competition on Tuesday, return to league action on Dec. 23 with a home game against Al-Raed.

For the first hour on Friday the match hung in the balance, amid an atmosphere worthy of a meeting between the champions of Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Given the passionate level of support from the Al-Ahly fans, at times their players must have felt like they were playing at home.

The first half was played at a fast pace as both teams looked to get forward, even if they struggled to create clear chances. Romarinho had one of the best early on, from inside the area, forcing a good save from Mohammed El-Shenawy.

Al-Ahly were awarded a penalty in the 19th minute when Hassan Kadesh handled a long pass while under pressure from two Egyptian attackers. Despite the wall of yellow behind the goal, Ali Maaloul kept his cool and sent the ball straight down the middle past the diving Abdullah Al-Mayouf.

Seven minutes before the break, Benzema got sight of goal when a fine cross from Muhannad Al-Shanqiti found him on the left side of the area, but his low shot was straight at El-Shenawy.

As Al-Ittihad continued to push for an equalizer they left themselves open to a counterattack and were almost caught out, with Zakaria Al-Hawsawi forced to put the ball behind for a corner.

Before it could be taken, however, the referee was called to the monitor to check a possible earlier handball by Mohammed Abdelmonem and, after a review, he awarded a penalty to Al-Ittihad. Up stepped Benzema in front of a wall of red — and green laser beams shining into his eyes — but El-Shenawy went the right way to make a comfortable diving save.

Near the end of a dramatic first half, Al-Ahly almost scored a second when Kahraba latched onto a poor pass-back from Ahmed Hegazi, but Al-Mayouf was there to make the save.

Al-Ittihad effectively started the second half with two new full-backs. First, coach Marcelo Gallardo replaced Hawsawi with Ahmed Bamsaud at half time. Then, moments after the restart, right-back Al-Shanqiti seemed to pick up a hamstring injury and Madallah Al-Olayan took over.

Within minutes, the two-time Asian champions almost leveled the game. Igor Coronado slipped the ball through to Faisal Al-Ghamdi on the left side of the area, whose low shot squirmed through the legs of El-Shenawy but hit the post and rebounded into the grateful arms of the veteran goalkeeper.

Instead of 1-1, the score became 2-0 just before the hour mark. Hussein El-Shahat, who was making a record 13th appearance at the Club World Cup, had possession of the ball just inside the left corner of the area, made a little room for himself and then curled a delightful shot past the diving Al-Mayouf, sending the Egyptian fans wild.

The game was effectively over just two minutes later when Al-Ahly found huge gaps in the Al-Ittihad defense and Kharaba pulled the ball back from the byline for Emam Ashour to roll the ball home. There was a check for a possible foul in the build-up but the goal stood and that was that.

Al-Ahly took their foot off the gas at that point, their thoughts no doubt turning to their semi-final, but Anthony Modeste’s last-minute red card for an elbow on Hegazi might come back to haunt the team.

Soon after that, Benzema got Al-Ittihad’s consolation as he fired home from close range to claim his sixth Club World Cup goal.

The game will live long in the memories of Al-Ahly fans, as will the celebrations that followed. Al-Ittihad now need to regroup and bounce back on the domestic front, with three games coming up in the space of a week before the end of the year.


Ronaldo’s brace keeps Al-Nassr in title race after beating Damac 2-0

Updated 29 November 2024
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Ronaldo’s brace keeps Al-Nassr in title race after beating Damac 2-0

  • It was far from a vintage performance by the Riyadh club
  • Al-Nassr should have extended their lead on numerous occasions

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on Friday to give Al-Nassr a vital 2-0 win over Damac that keeps the Riyadh hosts in the title race.
It was far from a vintage performance by the Riyadh club but they move on to 25 points from 12 games, three behind Al-Hilal and five behind Al-Ittihad, with the top two teams in action on Saturday.
Ronaldo went closest early on, heading over from a good position but had an even better one after 16 minutes as Al-Nassr were awarded a penalty following a handball in the area from Abdelkader Bedrane.
Ronaldo stuttered and delayed his run-up before drilling a low shot into the bottom-left corner beyond the diving Amin Al-Bukhari to show his famous “Siu” celebration for the 57th time in 58 league games for the Yellows.
Al-Nassr should have extended their lead on numerous occasions. Angelo rolled two shots just wide of the post while Sadio Mane had a close-range effort saved by Al-Bukhari after being put through on goal by a Ronaldo backheel in the area.
At the break, Nassr coach Stefano Pioli would have been frustrated by his team not getting a second, and after play resumed, the Italian would have been unhappy at his time looking sloppy at the back. More than once Bento had to save the team from defensive laxness.
Some of the pressure was removed after 55 minutes as Damac were reduced to ten men. The unfortunate Bedrane saw red for a dangerous challenge on Mohamed Simakan.
The visitors still managed to cause problems for the star-studded hosts but Ronaldo sealed the win with 10 minutes remaining. Nawaf Boushal got to the byline on the left and provided the five-time Ballon D’Or winner with the perfect pullback and the Portuguese star did the rest, firing a left-footed shot powerfully home. It was his ninth league goal of the season so far.
Al-Qadsia stay fourth behind Al-Nassr on goal difference with a 1-0 win at home to Al-Khaleej, a fifth league victory in succession for the newly promoted team.


Al-Hilal out to banish minor slump against Riyadh rivals Al-Shabab

Updated 29 November 2024
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Al-Hilal out to banish minor slump against Riyadh rivals Al-Shabab

  • Questions are being asked of the champions who last week dropped points in the SPL and AFC Champions League

DUBAI: Are all-conquering Al-Hilal fallible?

This is the question being posed after a week in which the holders were beaten — for the first time in a record 57 domestic matches — by dark horses Al-Khaleej to cede top spot in Roshn Saudi League to Al-Ittihad, then draw with Qatar’s Al-Sadd to be replaced at the AFC Champions League Elite League Stage’s West Region summit by Al-Ahli.

Although Champions League progress to the knockout stages by Al-Hilal — as well as the other Saudi clubs involved, Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr, has been confirmed — this mini slump has shaken predictions of a 2024-2025 procession for Jorge Jesus’s star-studded squad.

Arab News takes a look at issues from which rivals may take encouragement ahead of Saturday night’s derby at much-improved neighbors Al-Shabab.

Looking at the numbers

Naturally for a team this, uniquely, good, it’s not yet time to ring the alarm bell.

A return of two wins, two draws — Al-Hilal’s other dropped points came in the much-hyped Riyadh Derby at Al-Nassr on Nov. 1 — and one defeat from five matches is slightly concerning. But this followed a staggering run of 18 successive victories that included the 2023-2024 King’s Cup and 2024-2025 Saudi Super Cup successes.

Since Jesus was rehired at the start of last season, he’s overseen 68 wins, eight draws and just four defeats. The Portuguese mastermind is also in charge of leading scorers in this term’s RSL (29) and AFC Champions League (17).

All this has been achieved with only minimal appearances by Brazil megastar Neymar, because of injuries.

Nothing is forever in football.

Manchester City’s current travails in Europe demonstrate that maxim. Causes exist for Hilal concern.

No Neves, no party?

It feels impertinent to pick out one name from a galaxy of superstars, but Ruben Neves is a special case.

Hilal have not been the same since a knee injury necessitated, first, his removal in victory on Oct. 21 at Asian champions Al-Ain and, second, surgery earlier this month. Head physician Dr. Juan Jimenez anticipated a “return to match action in January,” meaning solutions must be found.

The Portugal defensive midfielder has excelled since being bought from Wolverhampton Wanderers, making a strong argument to be considered the smartest buy in the game-changing summer of 2023 recruitment drive across The Kingdom.

He is, also, a player without natural replacement in Hilal’s squad. A situation accentuated by pre-season exits by club icon Salman Al-Faraj to ambitious NEOM SC and a loan to Ettifaq for Abdulelah Al-Malki.

This is not the case for injured attackers Neymar and Salem Al-Dawsari, despite their incredible talents.

No one can question the ability of Mohamed Kanno, Nasser Al-Dawsari or Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. But this trio perform different midfield tasks to the waylaid Neves.

Hilal have kept only two clean sheets in seven matches since the 27-year-old was sidelined. This is a gap that must be plugged, especially after the impending winter break’s end versus Ittihad in the King’s Cup quarter-finals on Jan. 7, 2025.

Sterner opposition?

By the end of match week 11 in 2023-2024, Hilal had already accrued a four-point advantage over Nassr and were the division’s only unbeaten outfit.

Holders Ittihad were a distant sixth, eight points behind, and then-promoted Ahli were fifth on 22 points to the leaders’ 29.

Gargantuan improvement at Ittihad puts them one point ahead of champions Hilal at the same stage of the season, despite both Nassr and Ahli registering fewer points from their opening top-flight fixtures.

Laurent Blanc’s summer arrival in Jeddah has rejuvenated 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema. His RSL tally of eight goals in eight games is just one less than in all of 2023-2024 (nine goals in 21 outings).

This has been aided by the tremendous impacts of fellow Francophones Moussa Diaby — with a leading 10 assists — and last-gasp hero Houssem Aouar.

With N’Golo Kante and Fabinho patrolling midfield for the competition’s second-stingiest rearguard (eight goals conceded in 11 games), Ittihad are not budging in this engaging title battle.

Mitrovic dependence

Bafetimbi Gomis had looked irreplaceable in the hearts of Hilal supporters — that is, until Aleksandar Mitrovic showed up.

The Serbia center forward has exceeded all expectations since a protracted move from Fulham was finally completed in August 2023. He’s struck a formidable 59 times in 63 outings, on the way to four pieces of silverware.

In a strong support cast in 2023-2024, Malcom scored 25 times and Salem Al-Dawsari 24 times across all competitions, to Mitrovic’s 40. This season, he’s more of a solo act.

A fearsome tally of 19 goals in 20 appearances dwarfs that of compatriot Milinkovic-Savic (six), Salem Al-Dawsari and Marcos Leonardo (both seven) and Malcom (three).

If Mitrovic doesn’t fire, it decreases Hilal’s odds of winning.

Summer signings yet to take prominence

Hilal’s sense of purpose to reclaim the RSL trophy in 2023-2024 was intense.

An ominous set of pre-season signings set the course for domestic dominance. This pre-season’s batch have yet to make similarly profound impressions.

Portugal right-back Joao Cancelo has saved his buccaneering best for Asian football, following his Manchester City move. A superb goal at Al-Rayyan and four assists in five outings is vastly superior to a return of two assists in nine league appearances.

It is a similar tale for Brazil youth forward Marcos Leonardo, scooped up from Benfica. Returns of two goals in four AFC games and two goals in two King’s Cup ties look far healthier than two goals in eight top-flight matches.

Availability issues have hampered rapid left-back Moteb Al-Harbi since being bought from Shabab, with one goal coming in six fixtures. Ettifaq loanee Khalid Al-Ghannam has, unsurprisingly, got one assist to show from six fleeting appearances.

Competition for places is fierce. This second wave of signings under Jesus must fight for every minute on the pitch.

A greater threat of being usurped could give a required jolt to the existing Hilal squad for the challenges ahead.


Saudi women’s U20 national team ready for West Asian Football Federation Championship in Jordan

Updated 28 November 2024
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Saudi women’s U20 national team ready for West Asian Football Federation Championship in Jordan

  • Team led by head coach Pauline Hamill will face Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria
  • Event is part of team’s preparation for the 2026 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian under-20 women’s national team makes its competitive tournament debut against Palestine on Thursday night at the West Asian Football Federation U20 Women’s Championship in Jordan.

The championship will feature women’s national U20 sides from Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Head coach Pauline Hamill’s side will play their opening match in Aqaba, before facing the remaining sides to determine the winners of the tournament.

After a camp in Jeddah in October, the upcoming tournament concludes the U20 side’s first year since the formation of the team as part of the Women’s National Team program in December 2023.

As the first competitive tournament appearance for Hamill’s squad, the U20 WAFF Women’s Championship will provide a platform to prepare for the upcoming qualification matches for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in 2026.

Aalia Al Rasheed, head of women’s football at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, said: “We believe in the abilities of our players, and this tournament is an opportunity to build competitive experience for the players and develop their football capabilities.

“It’s incredible to look at the growth of this team since the formation of the squad in December 2023, we look forward to seeing our under-20 side performing in their tournament debut and representing our nation with honor in a fitting conclusion to their first year.”

The latest tournament for the Saudi Women’s National Team programme highlights the rapid growth of women’s football in the Kingdom since the official introduction of the national team in 2021 and the first professional football league in 2022, with more than 70,000 girls also participating in the national schools’ league.


Saudi Pro League and OneFootball team up on official video and editorial content

Updated 28 November 2024
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Saudi Pro League and OneFootball team up on official video and editorial content

  • Fans can access match clips, highlights, behind-the-scenes footage and viral moments
  • Omar Mugharbel: ‘This collaboration is an important step in our commitment to increasing international engagement’

RIYADH: The Saudi Pro League and OneFootball have announced a new partnership aimed at expanding the global visibility of one of the world’s fastest-growing football leagues.

Through this collaboration, the SPL will publish and amplify official video and editorial content across OneFootball, bringing worldwide fans closer to the action than ever before.

As part of the partnership, OneFootball will feature video content on its platforms, including content from the SPL’s official social channels. Fans can look forward to match clips, highlights, behind-the-scenes footage and viral moments in vertical and horizontal formats. This initiative aims to enhance the fan experience by providing visual narratives throughout the season.

“We are delighted to partner with OneFootball to bring Saudi Pro League content to football fans across the globe,” said Omar Mugharbel, CEO of the Saudi Pro League. “This collaboration is an important step in our commitment to increasing international engagement and providing fans everywhere with a closer connection to the excitement and passion of Saudi football.”

In addition to video content, OneFootball will offer official editorial coverage from the SPL in English, ensuring that fans can access timely updates, in-depth analysis, and expert commentary throughout the season.

Patrick Fischer, CEO at OneFootball, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the Saudi Pro League to showcase the incredible talent and excitement of football in the region. This collaboration will elevate the league’s content and enhance the overall fan experience, bringing the vibrant world of Saudi football to a wider audience.”

To kick off the collaboration, representatives from OneFootball recently travelled to Saudi Arabia to cover the Saudi Pro League’s “Derby Week,” attending the “Sea Derby” in Jeddah between Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, as well as the “Capital Derby” in Riyadh, featuring Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal. OneFootball’s content provided exclusive social media content, behind-the-scenes moments, and in-depth interviews with league representatives, managers and players.

OneFootball will be a primary outlet for publishing the SPL’s official text and video content for global audiences, with the aim of enhancing fan engagement and fostering a deeper connection between the league and its supporters.


Ronaldo delivers another Al-Nassr triumph in Asia

Updated 25 November 2024
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Ronaldo delivers another Al-Nassr triumph in Asia

  • Al-Nassr on brink of knockout stages after win

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Al-Nassr triumphed 3-1 at Al-Gharafa of Qatar on Monday to move to the brink of the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League Elite with three group games still to play.

All the goals came in the second half as the Saudi Arabians moved onto 13 points and second place in the group, just two points behind leaders Al-Ahli who earlier won 2-1 at Al-Ain of the UAE.

Al-Nassr made most of the running in the first half but just could not find a way through.

Ronaldo had an early shot saved by Sergio Rico and the Spanish goalkeeper made a diving stop to then push away a shot from the Portuguese star as Al-Nassr pressed again after 19 minutes. 

Soon after it was the turn of Al-Gharafa to go close and Bento had to get down well to save from Wajdi Kechrida at his near post.

Al-Nassr were awarded a penalty just before the half hour as Matias Nani chopped down Sadio Mane on the left side of the area. It looked a clear decision by the referee and Ronaldo put the ball down on the spot ready to shoot his team into the lead before VAR intervened to overrule and keep the game goalless.

Ronaldo had a great chance in the 34th minute but somehow headed Marcelo Brozovic’s left-sided free-kick wide from close range.

It had been a frustrating period for the star and it got worse just before the break as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had a goalbound shot blocked.

He was determined to put it right, though, and did so within the first minute of the second half. Angelo got to the byline on the right and his perfect cross was met by Ronaldo’s thundering header that flew into the bottom corner to give Rico no chance. 

Two minutes before the hour, Angelo swapped passes with Otavio and then skipped past the goalkeeper to extend Al-Nassr’s lead and then, six minutes later, Ronaldo got his second. He was found inside the box by Angelo, turned his defender and then fired home high into the net.

That was that, or so everyone thought, before Spanish striker Joselu pulled one back with 17 minutes remaining.

There was still time for Al-Gharafa’s Seydou Sano to receive his marching orders following two yellow cards, but Al-Nassr saw out the match to complete another perfect day for Saudi Arabian clubs in Asia.