Al Ittihad Advances to Semifinals in Saudi Cup with Dominant Victory

Al Ittihad advance to the Saudi Cup semifinals after a convincing victory without Benzema.

Marcelo Gallardo’s team beat Al Faisaly in a thrilling quarterfinal match. Despite the rival side’s fight, Al Faisaly could not keep up in the second half, and the final score was 0-4.

Al Ittihad’s victory comes on the heels of their elimination from the Club World Cup at the hands of Egypt’s Al Ahly. In addition, the controversy surrounding Karim Benzema, who will return to training with the group next Monday, has been in the spotlight. However, Gallardo’s team showed its strength and advanced in the competition.

The first half was even, with both teams looking for chances. Marcelo Chamusca’s side surprised with their bold style of play and personality on the field.

Al Faisaly, aware of the level of their opponent, remained defensive, keeping all their players in their own half. Despite this, the home team had some clear chances during the 45 minutes, and managed to prevent Kanté and Fabinho from playing their game in the center of the field.

In the first minutes of the match, Romarinho had a good chance for Al Ittihad, and the team did not lose possession.

However, the lack of depth in Gallardo’s side’s play was evident. During the first half hour, the attackers failed to connect much with the ball. It was in the added minutes that Al Ittihad sealed their victory and secured their place in the Saudi Cup semifinals.