RIYADH: Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Nassr 3-2 on Wednesday to take a big step toward the Saudi Pro League title.
With four games of the season remaining, Ittihad are six points clear and are looking good for the big prize.
Somehow the visitors came back from two goals down to record the win. By the break, Al-Nassr were two goals to the good and were on course for a huge victory.
It started in fine fashion as Sadio Mane put Nassr ahead and then eight minutes before the break, Ayman Yahya made it 2-0.
In the first 10 minutes after the restart and Ittihad were level. First, Karim Benzema pulled a goal back and then N’Golo Kante scored to level the game.
The result seemed inevitable but then Al-Ittihad scored once more through Houssem Aouar and that ended up winning the game.
In the other big game of the day, Al-Hilal won 5-3 at Al-Raed to ensure that the race for the top is not over.
Salem Al-Dawsari was the hero for Al-Hilal as he scored three goals for the 19-time champions. His first came four minutes before the break.
The Saudi Arabian international has been in fine form of late. His first came four minutes before the break after Aleksandar Mitrovic had opened the scoring just after the half-hour. It was looking good with a two goal lead for the Riyadh giants who parted company with coach Jorge Jesus just days earlier.
Al-Raed pulled one back just before half time but Al-Dawsari restored the two goal lead on the hour and when Malcom added a fourth soon after, it looked to be job done. The hosts hit back once more however but Al Dawsari was on hand once again to keep Hilal's faint title hopes alive.
Elsewhere, just four days after being crowned Asian champions Al Ahli returned to domestic action to defeat Al Taawoun 2-0 to go above Al-Nassr into third.