Al-Ittihad Edge Al-Shabab 2-0 As Bergwijn Seals Victory In Saudi Pro League

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Al-Ittihad continued their recovery in the Saudi Pro League with a 2-0 victory over Al-Shabab, sealed late by Steven Bergwijn. Ahmed Al Ghamdi struck in the first half and Bergwijn finished the job near the end, giving Sergio Conceicao a second straight league win and handing Al-Shabab another setback in a difficult domestic run.

The result meant Al-Ittihad followed a morale-boosting win over Al-Riyadh with another controlled performance, despite some missed chances. Bergwijn’s goal arrived in the 85th minute, while substitute Abdulaziz Al Bishi had a late strike ruled out for offside. Al-Shabab’s winless stretch in the Saudi Pro League extended to eight matches, the longest such sequence in their history.

Al-Shabab had an early chance to punish a defensive mistake, when Abdullah Matuq broke through in the second minute but could not convert. Al-Ittihad responded with greater precision as Ahmed Al Ghamdi finished from Roger Fernandes’ low pass, scoring a second league goal this season. Muhannad Al Shanqiti then clipped the base of the post as Conceicao’s side pushed for a quick second strike.

Al-Ittihad carried that threat into the second half but had to wait until the closing stages for daylight on the scoreboard. A swift counter-attack saw Al Shanqiti break down the flank and send in a low cross, which Bergwijn calmly guided into an unguarded net, registering a first league goal since September for the forward.

There was still time for more drama, as Abdulaziz Al Bishi thought a third goal had arrived when a low attempt deflected into the bottom-left corner. Replays showed Al Bishi had moved into an offside position before shooting, and the flag cut short the celebrations, leaving the scoreline at 2-0 despite Al-Ittihad’s pressure.

Data from the match underlined how Al-Ittihad could have recorded a heavier win. They produced 17 attempts, their highest tally in the league this season, with six efforts from Karim Benzema alone. The side generated a cumulative expected goals figure of 2.37, which suggested further goals were available but not taken.

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The victory gave Al-Ittihad back-to-back league wins for only the second time this campaign and a third straight success over Al-Shabab in Saudi Pro League meetings. For Al-Shabab, the defeat kept the club without a league victory across eight fixtures, extending a difficult sequence that has started to shape their season’s outlook.