In one of the most thrilling matches of the Saudi Pro League season, Al-Ittihad managed to turn a 2-0 deficit against Al-Nassr into a 3-2 victory. The match, held at Al-Awwal Park as part of the 30th round, initially saw Al-Nassr dominate, with Sadio Mané scoring in the 3rd minute and Ayman Yahya adding another in the 38th minute. However, Al-Ittihad fought back in the second half with goals from Karim Benzema in the 49th minute, N’Golo Kanté in the 52nd minute, and a last-minute strike from Hussam Al-Owairan in the 90+4th minute to secure a crucial three points. This victory solidified Al-Ittihad’s position at the top of the table with 71 points, maintaining a six-point lead over second-placed Al-Hilal, while Al-Nassr dropped to fourth place with 60 points.

The game started with intense pressure. In just the second minute, Al-Ittihad’s Abdulrahman Al-Aboud missed a chance to score, sending his shot wide. Shortly after, Sadio Mané capitalized on a rebound inside the box to give Al-Nassr the lead in the 3rd minute. Nawaf Boushal came close in the 9th minute with a powerful run, but his shot missed the target. Al-Ittihad refused to sit back, and in the 20th minute, Mohannad Al-Shanqeeti created their first real chance, forcing Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento Krepski into a save.

The first half continued with dangerous opportunities for both teams. In the 30th minute, Mané found himself in a scoring position but sent his shot over the bar. Minutes later, Benzema missed a header from Moussa Diaby’s cross. Al-Nassr doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Mané set up Yahya, who finished with a sharp strike. Before halftime, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mané had further chances, but Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Rajković made crucial saves to keep the deficit at two goals.

The second half began with a storming attack from Al-Ittihad. Just four minutes in, Al-Aboud delivered a perfect cross for Benzema, who headed home to make it 2-1. A minute later, Al-Aboud nearly scored himself but missed. Al-Ittihad’s pressure continued, and in the 52nd minute, Kanté leveled the score with a powerful run and finish. Mané tried to restore Al-Nassr’s lead in the 55th minute but missed. Both managers made substitutions, with Al-Nassr’s coach Pioli bringing on fresh legs, while Al-Ittihad’s Blanc introduced Steven Bergwijn and Fawaz Al-Saqour.

As the game seemed headed for a draw, Al-Ittihad delivered the final blow in stoppage time. In the 90+4th minute, a precise cross into the box was met by Al-Owairan, who scored the winning goal. This not only secured three vital points for Al-Ittihad but also created a historic moment in the league, solidifying their title ambitions while leaving Al-Nassr with a tougher battle for Asian qualification.