In a commanding display of attacking football, Al-Ittihad Club secured a decisive 4-1 victory over Al Sadd SC in a recent AFC Champions League Elite group stage encounter. The match, unfolding with significant implications for the standings, saw the Saudi Arabian side assert their dominance early and maintain control throughout the ninety minutes.
The scoring was initiated by Romarinho, whose precise finish in the 23rd minute provided the visitors with a crucial early advantage. This momentum was swiftly capitalized upon by Karim Benzema, the French superstar doubling his team’s lead merely six minutes later with a characteristically clinical strike. Entering the halftime interval with a comfortable two-goal cushion, Al-Ittihad’s tactical discipline and offensive firepower were already on full display.
Second Half Seals the Result
Emerging from the break, Al Sadd sought to mount a response and managed to narrow the deficit. A goal from Hassan Al-Haydos in the 58th minute offered a glimmer of hope for the Qatari supporters, briefly reigniting the contest. However, any aspirations of a comeback were effectively extinguished by Al-Ittihad’s relentless pressure.
The Saudi Pro League giants restored their two-goal advantage through Igor Coronado in the 74th minute, a goal that effectively sealed the match’s outcome. To compound matters for the hosts, Ahmed Suhail received a second yellow card in the 83rd minute, reducing Al Sadd to ten men for the final stages. Fabinho then put the final exclamation point on the performance, converting from the penalty spot in the 88th minute to complete the emphatic 4-1 scoreline.
This result significantly bolsters Al-Ittihad Club‘s position in Group B, propelling them to the summit of the table with a total of seven points from three matches. Conversely, Al Sadd SC finds themselves anchored at the bottom, still seeking their first points of the campaign. The comprehensive nature of this victory sends a formidable message to the rest of the competition regarding Al-Ittihad’s ambitions in this elite continental tournament.