Al-Ittihad Turns the Tables on the Gulf and⁢ Competes with Al-Hilal for the Lead

Al-Ittihad moved to the top⁤ of the⁢ Saudi Professional Football League‌ today, Friday, with a 4-1 win over ‌Al-Khalij in the fifth round of the competition, which saw Al-Nasr win‍ 2-0 to Al-Wahda and 1-0 to Al-Qadisiya over‍ Al-Ahly.

Al-Ittihad secured their fourth win ⁤against a defeat this season, taking their tally to 12 points, level with Al-Hilal, who can⁤ remain alone ‍at the​ top with a match⁤ against ​Al-Khuloud⁣ in⁤ the same round ‌tomorrow, Saturday.

As for Al-Khaliz, it​ suffered its third‍ defeat of the season compared to one‍ win and one draw,‌ which saw its score​ stagnate at ‍four points.

Khaled Nari opened the scoring for⁤ Al-Khaliz just four ‌minutes into ‌the match, ⁤as he received a long pass‍ and fired a volley shot from outside the penalty area that went over the ‍advancing goalkeeper ⁣and into the ⁤net.

Karim Benzema equalized for Al-Ittihad three minutes into the second ‌half⁤ when he received ‌a ⁢cross inside the penalty area, took off and then slotted the ball into the net with his⁤ left foot.

In⁤ the 56th minute, Hossam Awar added⁢ the second goal ⁢for Al-Ittihad,⁤ receiving a cross from ⁣Moaz Fakihi and slotting the ball into the net.

Steven Bergwijn added ⁣Al-Ittihad’s third goal in the 68th minute, as he received a cross ​from Moussa Diaby and ⁣took ⁤advantage⁢ of his ​lack of control to shoot the ball into the goal.

In the 72nd minute, Hossam Ouar​ put the ball‍ in the net again, but the referee disallowed it as a goal due to ‍offside.

Hamed Al-Ghamdi scored the ⁢fourth goal for Al-Ittihad ‍with​ a missile⁤ shot from ‍outside the penalty area in the ‌fifth‍ minute of stoppage time of the⁢ match.