Frenchman Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad complicated their chances of competing in the next edition of the Asian Champions League after losing 1-0 to Al Ahli on Monday in a derby in the city of Jeddah that the locals decided in favor of them thanks to his biggest hit.
They were of little or no use to the Argentine-led team Marcelo Gallardo the quality of the flashes of Benzema, that after a quarter of an hour of play he once again showed the immense talent he possesses with a sensational ‘pipe’ on the edge of the area against the Turkish Merih Demiral.
Nothing sticks
But if the former Real Madrid player improved every action that went through his boots, Al Ittihad lacked the punch to translate any of the plays invented by the French forward into goals.
As confirmed in the 21st minute andn a wall between Karim Benzema and Romarinho which the Brazilian attacker failed to finish after seeing his shot go wide.
The same failed fate met with each of the chances Al Ittihad managed in the first half that never stopped creating danger on the counterattack.
Al Ahli sentences
Al Ahli, on the other hand, were unable to translate their greater ball control into clear scoring chances, but did not waste their first good chance to take the lead in the 34th minute on the scoreboard.
A goal by Saudi striker Firas Al-Buraikan, which culminated in a first-time shot inside the area, an electric combination between Frenchman Allan Saint-Maximin and Brazilian Roberto Firmino, a former Liverpool player, who signed a sensational assist.
Result that Al Ittihad tried to match in the second half that Gallardo’s men became a continuous siege on the goal defended by Edward Mendy.
In fact, The Senegalese goalkeeper has been a great opponent in the second 45 minutes after stopping the ‘Tigers’ from equalizing with two stunning saves from headers after a corner kick by Hassan Kadesh and Karim Benzema seemed destined for a goal.
And where the former Chelsea goalkeeper couldn’t reach, a post appeared to deflect a fierce shot from in front of the French midfielder’s area in the 72nd minute. N’Golo Kanté.
Goal disallowed for Firmino
A lack of punch that Al Ahli almost punished with eight minutes remaining with a goal from Firmino not getting on the scoreboard due to a millimeter offside by the Brazilian striker.
Decision not to stop the German team Mathias Jaissle win by a victory (1-0) that consolidates Al Ahli in third place in the Saudi Pro League, the last one that guarantees access to the Asian Champions League, with a five-point advantage over Al Ittihad , which will remain anchored in fourth place.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
