New Delhi: In a gripping Saudi Pro League encounter, Al-Ittihad secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Al-Nassr, thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Dutch international Steven Bergwijn. The clash featured moments of brilliance from Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, two of football’s biggest stars, but it was Bergwijn who stole the spotlight in the dying moments.
The former Real Madrid teammates came head-to-head in the biggest game of the Saudi Pro League and it looked like the two old teammates would share the spoils amongst themselves, but it would be Benzema who would go back happier of the two. This result extends Al Ittihad’s lead at the top of the table by five points but defending champions Al-Hilal have a game in hand. Ronaldo’s side meanwhile, has slipped to fourth in the league table and are an astonishing 11 points behind the league leaders.
The match kicked off with both sides displaying intense energy. Al-Ittihad, playing on their home turf, made their presence felt early, with Karim Benzema leading the charge. The hosts made their presence known in the first half as they were dominating the attacking proceedings and making life difficult for the visitors. Al-Nassr struggled to find rhythm in the opening stages but grew into the game.
Congrats to Our Fans 👏
Every win and top spot belongs to them🔝🔥#Alittihad_AlNassr pic.twitter.com/wZlT31YCXn
— Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) December 6, 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané attempted to create openings, but Al-Ittihad’s organized defense, protected by the ever reliable duo of N’Golo Kanté and Fabinho, held firm. The first half ended with the score still at 0-0 and everything left to play for in the second half. Ten minutes into the second half of the game, Benzema finally broke through in the 55th minute, slotting home a well-placed left-footed shot into the bottom left corner. Muhannad Al-Shanqiti’s swift counter-attack set up Benzema perfectly, giving Al-Ittihad a crucial lead.
However, the lead didn’t last long as Ronaldo ensured that Benzema wasn’t the only ex-Real Madrid attacker to end up on the scoresheet. The Portuguese icon equalized just two minutes lates, in the 57th minute with a composed right-footed strike from the center of the box. Ângelo’s deft assist set up the Portuguese star, who made no mistake, igniting hopes of a comeback.
Tensions flared as the game turned increasingly physical, with multiple yellow cards issued, including one for Ronaldo. Both sides pushed for a winner, and Al-Ittihad’s substitutions brought fresh energy to their attack. Al-Nassr, meanwhile, lost Abdullah Al Khaibari to injury, forcing a late change that disrupted their momentum. Just when it seemed like both teams are heading towards a draw, Steven Bergwijn had his say.
Late drama denied Ronaldo’s side a vital point
In the first minute of added time, the former Spurs man delivered the decisive blow. Mario Mitaj’s incisive play on the left wing allowed him to feed Bergwijn, who fired a clinical right-footed shot past the goalkeeper into the bottom right corner. The goal capped a sensational performance by the Dutchman, who had been a constant menace throughout, alongwith Mitaj and Benzema.
The final minutes were filled with frantic action as Al-Nassr fought desperately to salvage a point. A late offside call against Abdulrahman Ghareeb and a missed header by Mohammed Marran left Al-Nassr fans heartbroken. Al-Ittihad defended resolutely to secure the victory. With this win, Al-Ittihad reinforced their title ambitions while Al-Nassr were left ruing missed opportunities. For fans, this match will be remembered as a thrilling battle between two star-studded teams, marked by moments of individual brilliance and high-stakes drama.
Dutch international Steven Bergwijn struck right at the death to clinch victory for his side after it seemed like the game was heading for a draw after goals from former teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
