Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Al Ittihad continued their winning streak with a crucial 2-1 victory over Al Shabab in a high-stakes clash at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Wednesday.

The win keeps Al Ittihad level on points with league leaders Al Hilal at the top of the Roshn Saudi League standings after 16 rounds, trailing only on head-to-head records.

The match delivered intense first-half action, with all three goals scored before the break.

Al Ittihad initially thought they had taken the lead in the 30th minute through Hassan Kadesh, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

However, the home side quickly recovered, with Abdulrahman Al-Obud finding the back of the net just two minutes later to open the scoring.

In stoppage time of the first half, captain Karim Benzema doubled Al Ittihad’s advantage with a well-timed strike, sending the home fans into raptures.

Al Shabab refused to go into halftime without a response, and Haroune Camara managed to pull one back for the visitors in added time, keeping the contest alive.

The second half saw a noticeable drop in tempo, with neither side able to find the net again.

Al Ittihad maintained control of the match, and despite Al Shabab’s efforts, they were unable to equalize, securing the three points for the home team.

With this victory, Al Ittihad climbs to 43 points, matching Al Hilal's tally but remaining second due to head-to-head results.

Al Shabab, on the other hand, remains in sixth place with 26 points as their chase for a top-four finish takes a hit.

This result tightens the race at the top of the Roshn Saudi League table, as Al Ittihad continues to put pressure on Al Hilal in the quest for the league title.