Al-Ittihad’s march towards the Saudi Pro League title suffered a setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Al-Okhdood at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Sunday. A stunning stoppage-time equalizer from Cameroonian forward Christian Bassogog denied the hosts a crucial victory and reduced their lead at the top of the table.
Al-Ittihad appeared to be on course for three points after Hassam Aouar’s 39th-minute goal gave them the lead. Karim Benzema had missed a clear chance shortly before, but Aouar made no mistake, finishing precisely from the left side of the box. Al-Okhdood, however, had started brightly and almost leveled just before half-time when Naif Asiri’s header struck the crossbar.
The second half saw Al-Ittihad dominate possession and create further opportunities to extend their lead, but they were unable to find a second goal.
In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Al-Okhdood earned a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Bassogog unleashed a powerful long-range strike that flew past the Al-Ittihad goalkeeper, silencing the home crowd and securing a valuable point for the visitors.
The draw leaves Al-Ittihad on 57 points, six points clear of second-placed Al-Hilal, but crucially, Al-Hilal have a game in hand. Al-Okhdood remain in the relegation zone (17th place with 17 points), but the point could prove vital in their fight for survival. The result throws the Saudi Pro League title race wide open, with Al-Ittihad’s previously commanding lead now significantly reduced.
Al-Qadsiah Edge Al-Riyadh, Al-Ettifaq Secure Late Draw
In another dramatic encounter, Al-Qadsiah secured a 1-0 victory over Al-Riyadh thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Abdulaziz Al-Othman. The hosts capitalized on their numerical advantage after Al-Riyadh striker Mohamed Konate was sent off in the 63rd minute. The win lifts Al-Qadsiah to third place in the table with 50 points, while Al-Riyadh remain in ninth place with 30 points.
Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq salvaged a 1-1 draw against Al-Raed with a 99th-minute equalizer from Abdullah Al-Khateeb. Al-Raed had taken the lead in the 64th minute through Mathias Normann. The draw leaves Al-Ettifaq in seventh place with 32 points, while Al-Raed remain in 16th place with 18 points. The late goals across the league highlight the competitive and unpredictable nature of the Saudi Pro League.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
