Al Ittihad Thrash Al Ettifaq 4-1 as Youssef En-Nesyri Scores Twice

Al Ittihad Secure Comfortable Victory

Al Ittihad returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion after beating Al Ettifaq 4-1 in Tuesday’s Saudi Pro League encounter.

The visitors endured a competitive opening half but took complete control after the interval, scoring three times to turn the match into a convincing victory. Youssef En-Nesyri was the standout figure, coming off the bench to score twice in the final 10 minutes.

The result lifted Al Ittihad to 20 points and fourth place in the league table, while Al Ettifaq remained on 15 points in eighth position.

Ilenikhena Gives Al Ittihad Early Lead

Al Ittihad started with attacking intent and were rewarded in the 16th minute.

George Ilenikhena opened the scoring after receiving a clever back-heel from Richard Ríos inside the penalty area. The Nigerian forward kept his composure and fired a left-footed effort into the net to put the visitors ahead.

The early goal gave Al Ittihad confidence, but Al Ettifaq refused to allow the game to slip away from them.

The home side responded in the 34th minute through Sultan Ali Huran. Radhi Al Otaibi delivered a long pass that sent Huran through on goal, and the forward finished between Predrag Rajkovic’s legs to bring Al Ettifaq level.

The equaliser ensured the two sides went into the interval level at 1-1, despite Al Ittihad having shown some promising attacking moments.

Aouar Restores Al Ittihad’s Advantage

Al Ittihad came out for the second half with greater urgency and quickly regained the lead.

Just eight minutes after the restart, Houssem Aouar made it 2-1.

Ilenikhena played a low ball across the face of goal, and Aouar was perfectly positioned to turn it into the net. The goal rewarded Al Ittihad’s stronger start to the second half and shifted the momentum firmly in their favour.

Al Ettifaq tried to respond, but Al Ittihad’s attacking quality continued to cause problems.

The visitors also controlled more of the possession and created significantly more shooting opportunities over the 90 minutes. The final statistics showed Al Ittihad with 57% possession and 19 total shots, compared with Al Ettifaq’s 43% possession and nine attempts.

En-Nesyri Changes the Game

The decisive moment arrived in the 80th minute when Youssef En-Nesyri came off the bench.

The Moroccan striker needed only seven minutes to make his impact felt.

Muhannad Al Shanqiti supplied a low cross into the area, and En-Nesyri converted from close range to extend Al Ittihad’s advantage to 3-1.

With Al Ettifaq struggling to cope with the visitors’ attacking pressure, En-Nesyri struck again just five minutes later.

This time, Ahmed Al Ghamdi delivered the cross, and the striker produced an excellent header to complete his brace and make it 4-1.

His two goals effectively ended any hopes of an Al Ettifaq comeback and gave Al Ittihad a commanding victory.

Man of the Match: Youssef En-Nesyri

Youssef En-Nesyri was the Man of the Match.

The Al Ittihad striker made an immediate impact after entering the game in the 73rd minute, scoring twice within five minutes to turn a 2-1 advantage into a 4-1 victory.

His movement inside the box, finishing and aerial threat proved too much for Al Ettifaq’s defence. Although Ilenikhena and Aouar also played important roles, En-Nesyri’s late brace was the defining contribution of the contest.

His performance was particularly impressive because he did not need a full match to decide the outcome. He entered with Al Ittihad leading by one goal and left the field having effectively secured all three points for his team.

Al Ittihad Climb Back Into the Top Four

The victory represents an important response for Al Ittihad following their recent setbacks.

The Jeddah-based side entered the fixture looking to strengthen their league position, and the four-goal display provided exactly the kind of attacking performance they needed.

Al Ittihad now sit fourth with 20 points, two points ahead of Al Ahli in fifth.

For Al Ettifaq, the defeat represents another setback. They competed well during the first half and managed to equalise after falling behind, but their resistance disappeared after Aouar restored Al Ittihad’s lead.

The hosts eventually conceded three goals in the second half, highlighting the difference between the two teams’ attacking efficiency.

What the Result Means for Both Teams

The victory gives Al Ittihad an important boost as they continue their campaign in the Saudi Pro League. After being unable to completely dominate the first half, they showed better attacking sharpness after the restart and made their chances count when it mattered most.

The result also demonstrated the difference between staying competitive and taking control of a match. Al Ettifaq had moments where they looked capable of challenging their opponents, particularly after Huran’s equaliser, but they were unable to maintain that level once Al Ittihad regained the lead.

For Al Ittihad, the performance will be particularly encouraging because goals came from different areas of the attack. Ilenikhena provided the early breakthrough, Aouar restored the advantage and En-Nesyri finished the job with his late double. That variety should give the team confidence going into their next fixtures.

Al Ettifaq, meanwhile, will have to focus on their defensive response in future matches. They competed well for long periods but allowed the game to get away from them in the final stages. Conceding twice in five minutes made the scoreline look far more convincing for Al Ittihad than it had earlier in the evening.

Ultimately, Al Ittihad showed greater quality when the match entered its decisive stages, and En-Nesyri’s finishing ensured they left with a convincing three points.

Final Verdict

Al Ittihad deserved their victory after producing a much stronger second-half display.

Ilenikhena provided the early breakthrough, Aouar restored the lead after the interval, and En-Nesyri’s late brace completed a convincing 4-1 triumph.

For Al Ittihad, the result is more than just three points. It puts them back inside the Saudi Pro League’s top four and gives the team valuable momentum.

For Al Ettifaq, the challenge now is to recover quickly after allowing a competitive match to turn into a heavy home defeat.

Final score: Al Ettifaq 1-4 Al Ittihad.