JEDDAH: A last-gasp strike from Abderrazak Hamdallah gave Al-Ittihad a dramatic and valuable 1-0 win over Iraq’s Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya on Monday as they took control of Group C in the Asian Champions League.
After two games of the continental competition, the Saudi Arabian title holders have six points and are on course for a place in the last 16.
But for a long time in Jeddah it looked like it was not going to happen.
In fact, for 93 minutes Al-Ittihad had endured a frustrating evening, the second in succession in the competition.
After winning their first game in the group 3-0 against AGMK of Uzbekistan, the second round of games saw the Jeddah giants leave Iran without facing Sepahan.
This time it was expected that Nuno Santo’s men would win comfortably to go top of the group, despite a run of three winless games in the Roshn Saudi League.
It was not that simple, however. Santo was without star striker Karim Benzema — who scored a goal and an own goal in last Friday’s draw with Al-Taawoun — as the French striker had complained of a muscle pull earlier in the day.
Benzema, who was signed from Real Madrid in the summer, has been struggling with injuries of late, and Brazilian talents Igor Coronado and Fabinho were also omitted.
Even without such talent, The Tigers went at the visitors.
In the first half, the busy Jota pulled the creative strings, but despite the best efforts of the Portuguese star, Saleh Al-Amri, Romarinho, and Hamdallah, Al-Ittihad could not break the deadlock.
A combination of poor finishing, good goalkeeping and the woodwork — which denied a fine free-kick from Romarinho after the restart — meant the score remained goalless.
The Iraqis were happy to sit back although they managed to keep goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf on his toes with a couple of efforts in the second half.
Fans felt the game was drifting to a goalless stalemate before a fine piece of late, late opportunism from Hamdallah in the 94th minute.
N’Golo Kante swung the ball in from the right and a moment’s hesitation in defense was just enough for Hamdallah, who chested the ball down and then turned to fire home a low shot to send fans in the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium wild.
It was a real striker’s goal which means that Al-Ittihad are looking good for the knockout stage.
