JEDDAH — Al-Ittihad proved its mettle in a tough matchup against Al-Tai during the second round of the Saudi Professional League by winning 2-0 to establish a commanding lead. Al-Ittihad's victory propelled the team to the top of the league standings, beating out Al-Ahli on goal differential.
Al-Ittihad's dominance in the first half of the much-awaited encounter played at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium was evident.
Victor Braga, the goalkeeper for Al-Tai, made some outstanding saves to keep Al-Ittihad from taking advantage of their opportunities.
Karim Benzema, Abdulrazak Hamdallah, N'Golo Kanté, and Ahmed Bamsaud were not given the chance to break the tie thanks to Braga's amazing saves.
The pivotal moment occurred in the second half when a skillfully performed corner kick by Al-Ittihad allowed them to go past Al-Tai's defense.
In the 54th minute, Moroccan attacker Abdulrazak Hamdallah pounced on Igor Coronado's delivery and unleashed a powerful effort that went in the goal.
Al-Ittihad continued to assert its power as time ran out. Saleh Al-Amri scored a goal in extra time to secure the victory.
Al-Amri finished expertly after a quick exchange of passes between Hamdallah and Fabnho rendered Al-Tai's defense powerless.
With the victory, Al-Ittihad earned their second straight victory in the league, giving the defending champions a total of six points.
With their outstanding performance, they not only solidified their leadership position but also demonstrated their commitment to defending their crown.
Al-Tai, in the meantime, received three points for their heroic efforts, moving them up to tenth place in the league rankings.
As the Saudi Professional League develops, spectators can expect more thrilling matches as the league's competitive spirit is on full display.
