JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA — Al Ittihad entered this Saudi Pro League clash seeking to maintain their momentum, while Al Shabab arrived desperate to halt a concerning run of form that had seen them struggle for consistency. The hosts delivered a statement performance, securing a commanding 2-0 victory that reflected their territorial dominance throughout the 90 minutes at King Abdullah Sports City.
Ahmed Al Ghamdi broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, capitalizing on Al Ittihad's early pressure to give the hosts a deserved lead. The goal came after sustained attacking play that had already forced Al Shabab's goalkeeper into action multiple times. Al Ittihad controlled proceedings for the remainder of the first half, pinning their opponents deep inside their own territory. Steven Bergwijn put the result beyond doubt in the 85th minute, rifling home to seal all three points and reward Al Ittihad's relentless attacking intent. The Dutch winger's late strike capped a performance that showcased the gulf in quality between the two sides on the night.
The tactical battle was decidedly one-sided as Al Ittihad dominated the ball with 68.2% possession, pinning Al Shabab back for long stretches. Mario Mitaj patrolled the left flank effectively before picking up a yellow card in the 43rd minute, while Al Shabab's Majed Abdullah also saw yellow in the 70th minute as frustrations mounted. Al Shabab's defensive structure held firm longer than the statistics suggested it should have, with their backline forced into desperate clearances throughout. The visitors struggled to establish any meaningful foothold in midfield, managing just 6 shots compared to Al Ittihad's 16 attempts.
Al Ittihad's pressure yielded 12 corners as they camped in Al Shabab's half, repeatedly testing the visitors' resolve from set pieces and open play. Al Shabab's goalkeeper was called into action 5 times, producing crucial saves that prevented an even more emphatic scoreline. The shot accuracy told the story of Al Ittihad's clinical approach, with 7 efforts on target forcing heroic interventions. Al Shabab managed 4 shots on target from their limited opportunities, but Al Ittihad's goalkeeper Hassan Al-Rubaie was equal to the task with 4 saves of his own.
The turning point arrived when Al Shabab lost Nawaf Al Saadi to injury in the 39th minute, disrupting their already fragile defensive organization. The forced substitution allowed Al Ittihad to exploit additional space, with Vincent Sierro's introduction in the 76th minute failing to stem the tide. Late substitutions saw Saleh Al-Shehri and Hamed Alghamdi enter for Al Ittihad in the 88th minute, followed by Ahmed Sharahili and Ahmed Al-Julaydan in stoppage time as the hosts managed the closing stages professionally.
Looking ahead, Al Ittihad will host Neom on December 31, while Al Shabab will host Al Qadsiah on December 31.