Al-Ghannam Strike Stuns Dominant Al Ittihad in Feisty Saudi Pro League Clash

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA, BELGIUM — Khalid Al-Ghannam’s clinical 54th-minute finish was the solitary moment of quality in a match defined by defensive resilience and statistical anomaly, as Al Ettifaq escaped the King Abdullah Sports City with a precious 1-0 Saudi Pro League victory. The visitors, despite being pinned back for vast stretches and seeing just 35.7% of the ball, executed a perfect counter-punch to stun an Al Ittihad side that dominated every metric except the one that mattered most. The match descended into a fractious affair littered with stoppages, culminating in a late red card for Al Ittihad goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic, which sealed a night of profound frustration for the home supporters.

The game’s only goal arrived against the overwhelming run of play, showcasing the ruthless efficiency that defines classic away performances. In the 54th minute, Al Ettifaq broke forward during a rare period of sustained pressure. The ball found its way to Khalid Al-Ghannam in a dangerous area, and the attacker made no mistake, slotting a precise finish past the goalkeeper to send the traveling contingent into raptures. The goal acted as a shock to the system for Al Ittihad, who had controlled proceedings but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. Their best chances prior to the goal had been repelled by a combination of last-ditch defending and the alert goalkeeping of Marek Rodák, who would go on to be a central figure in the result.

The tactical battle was one of possession versus pragmatism. Al Ittihad, spearheaded by their creative midfielders, sought to break down a deep and organized Al Ettifaq block. Players like Roger Fernandes and Ahmed Al-Julaydan saw plenty of the ball, attempting to weave patterns through a congested center. In contrast, Al Ettifaq’s strategy was built on discipline and explosive transitions. Their defensive line, led by the combative Abdullah Khateeb who received an early yellow card, held firm under intense pressure. The key duel, however, was between Al Ittihad’s array of attackers and Al Ettifaq’s goalkeeper Marek Rodák. The Slovakian shot-stopper was called upon to make five crucial saves, including several from close range, to preserve his team’s slender lead and ultimately secure the clean sheet.

The statistical dominance of Al Ittihad was staggering, making the final scoreline all the more remarkable. The home side controlled 64.3% possession, effectively dictating the tempo of the match from start to finish. They launched 17 shots towards the Al Ettifaq goal, with five of those requiring intervention from Rodák. Their pressure also yielded a massive 10 corner kicks, compared to just one for the visitors, but they failed to capitalize on this set-piece superiority. Al Ettifaq, in stark contrast, managed only six shots all game, but with four on target, they demonstrated a lethal precision that their opponents lacked. The numbers painted a clear picture of one-way traffic, yet the scoreboard reflected a masterclass in defensive organization and clinical finishing.

While Al-Ghannam’s goal was the definitive moment, the match’s combustible nature reached a boiling point in the 85th minute, irrevocably shifting the dynamics. Al Ittihad’s frustrations, which had been simmering throughout the second half as chance after chance went begging, boiled over when goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic was shown a straight red card. The dismissal, reducing Al Ittihad to nine men following earlier yellow cards to Mahamadou Doumbia and Roger Fernandes, extinguished any lingering hope of a dramatic comeback. It was the culmination of a fiery encounter that saw the referee brandish eight cards in total, five of them to Al Ettifaq players including Rodák and Álvaro Medrán, as the visitors expertly managed the game’s tense final stages through a combination of tactical fouls and time management.

The atmosphere inside the King Abdullah Sports City grew increasingly tense as the clock ticked down, with the home crowd’s roars of encouragement turning to groans of disbelief with each missed opportunity and contentious decision. Al Ittihad’s recent form, which included a win over this same Al Ettifaq side just a few matches prior, made this result particularly hard to swallow. For Al Ettifaq, the victory was a testament to their grit and tactical discipline, overcoming a period of inconsistent results to secure a massive three points on the road. The defensive effort required every player to contribute, with the backline throwing bodies in front of shots and midfielders like Faris Al Ghamdi working tirelessly to disrupt Al Ittihad’s rhythm, even if it meant incurring a yellow card, as he did in the 56th minute.

The Saudi Pro League schedule offers both teams a quick chance to respond from this dramatic result. Al Ittihad will look to bounce back from this frustrating defeat when they host Al Qadsiah on January 20, a match where they will be desperate to convert dominance into points. Al Ettifaq, buoyed by this resilient away performance, will aim to build momentum when they welcome Neom to their home ground, also on January 20. This result will have significant implications for the mid-table landscape, proving that in football, possession and chances are mere precursors; the only statistic that truly endures is the final score, which on this night belonged unequivocally to the disciplined and clinical visitors.