JEDDAH: Captain Karim Benzema returned to the Al-Ittihad lineup on Thursday but could not inspire a return to winning ways in the Roshn Saudi League, as the defending champions were held to a 2-2 draw by lowly Al-Hazm.
Twice the Tigers took the lead and twice they were pegged back by the impressive visitors. The home side have now gone four games in the league without a win and sit in fifth place, five points behind leaders Al-Hilal who have a game in hand. Much more of this and any hope of a second-successive title will quickly fade.
Things had looked so positive early on. Fresh from a 1-0 victory at home over Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya of Iraq in the Asian Champions League on Monday, the Jeddah giants were on top from the start against visitors who only moved off the bottom of the table five days earlier thanks to their first win of the season. But despite having the worst defensive record in the league, Al-Hazm worked hard to prevent any supply to Benzema, who missed the continental clash this week through injury.
The opening goal was made in France and full of quality. N’Golo Kante won possession just inside the Al-Hazm half and found Benzema, screaming for the pass, on the left side of the area. The former Real Madrid marksman cut inside Paulo Ricardo to unleash a powerful shot high into the net.
The goal seemed to inspire a sense of relief at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium but a second goal simply would not come. Meanwhile Al-Hazm, who have found their shooting boots of late, tested goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe more than once and eventually made a breakthrough just after the hour mark.
Majed Qasheesh sent over a curling cross from the left and, as it bounced on the edge of the six-yard box, Mohammed Faud Al-Thani reacted quicker than anyone else to stab the ball home.
Al-Ittihad coach Nuno Santo brought on Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored the last-gasp winner three days earlier, and with nine minutes remaining, Al-Ittihad restored their lead. Benzema took possession from a corner and sent over a perfect low cross from the right side of the area for Hassan Kadesh to score from close range.
Fans might have thought that was surely that but, in the 86th minute, Al-Hazm hit back again. After good work from Yousef Al-Shammari down the right, a shot from Turki Fahad Al-Mutairi was saved by Grohe, but Faiz Selemani was waiting to knock in the rebound.
Al-Ittihad piled forward in the desperate hope of taking the lead for a third time, as coach Santo looked on in anger from the sidelines. Benzema headed over as the 90 minutes came to an end. Soon after, Hamdallah found himself in a good position but his shot was blocked by Bruno Viana. They simply could not find a way through and Al-Hazm almost managed to snatch victory right at the death.
The draw means that Al-Ittihad could be eight points off the pace by Friday night.
Meanwhile, second-place Al-Taawoun missed a chance to go level on points with Al-Hilal at the top of the league after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Khaleej.
In the biggest game on Friday, Al-Hilal will host fourth-placed Al-Ahli and, for once, Al-Ittihad will be hoping their Jeddah rivals can get a result.
