Al Ittihad, the current table topper of the Saudi Pro League, will face off against struggling Al Ettifaq in their 12th league fixture. While Al Ettifaq has been struggling to find their footing, Al Ittihad has been on a winning streak, with 26 goals scored and only 8 goals conceded. VItinho, a consistent performer for Al Ettifaq, will be a key player to watch in this match.
Al-Ittihad Extends Lead in Saudi Pro League with Decisive Victory over Al-Ettifaq
In a highly anticipated clash on Saturday, league leaders Al-Ittihad consolidated their position at the summit of the Saudi Pro League with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over struggling Al-Ettifaq.
Background:
Al-Ittihad has been in imperious form this season, boasting an impressive record of 10 wins, one draw, and one loss in their opening 12 matches. Their talismanic forward, Abderrazak Hamdallah, has been in scintillating form, scoring 10 goals and providing three assists.
Al-Ettifaq, on the other hand, has endured a difficult start to the campaign, languishing in the bottom half of the table with just two wins from their first 12 matches. A lack of goals has been a major concern for the team, with Brazilian midfielder Vitinho their leading scorer with just four goals.
Match Highlights:
The match at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium was a one-sided affair from the start. Al-Ittifaq offered little resistance as Al-Ittihad dominated possession and created numerous chances.
The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Hamdallah curled a superb effort into the top corner. Al-Ittifaq goalkeeper Abdellah Al-Maiouf was helpless as the ball flew past him.
Al-Ittihad doubled their advantage just before half-time through a penalty converted by midfielder Khalid Al-Ghannam. The penalty was awarded after Al-Ettifaq defender Mohannad Al-Harbi was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.
The second half saw Al-Ittihad continue to press for more goals. They finally got their third in the 80th minute when substitute Fahad Al-Mufarij found the net with a powerful shot from outside the area.
FAQs:
1. Where does Al-Ittihad stand in the league table? Al-Ittihad is currently top of the Saudi Pro League standings with 31 points from 12 matches.
2. Who is Al-Ittihad's top scorer this season? Abderrazak Hamdallah is Al-Ittihad's leading scorer with 10 goals this season.
3. What is Al-Ettifaq's current position in the table? Al-Ettifaq is currently 13th in the Saudi Pro League standings with 12 points from 12 matches.
4. Who scored Al-Ettihad's third goal in the match against Al-Ettifaq? Fahad Al-Mufarij scored Al-Ittihad's third goal in the match against Al-Ettifaq.
5. When is Al-Ittihad's next match? Al-Ittihad's next match is on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, against Al-Tai FC in the 13th round of the Saudi Pro League.
Rising Indian cricketer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has made a shocking decision to leave Mumbai and join Goa in the upcoming domestic season, as he seeks a change for personal reasons. The left-handed opener, who has already shown great potential in international cricket, will now represent a lesser-known team in hopes of making a bigger impact. This move is unprecedented, especially considering Jaiswal's successful stint with Mumbai and a lack of big names in the Goa team. Fans eagerly await the results of this surprising shift.
After Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced their first eight-wicket home defeat during IPL 2025, team mentor Zaheer Khan expressed his dissatisfaction with the pitch conditions. He stated that the curator did not consider it a home game, and requested for more support from the home facilities in order for the team to perform better in their home ground. Despite expecting the track to favour spin bowling, LSG's decision to bring in M Siddharth instead of Prince Yadav backfired as PBKS's fast bowling group proved to be too much for them.
On Monday, Mumbai Indians' medium-pacer Ashwani Kumar, a 23-year-old from Punjab's Jhanjeri, became the first Indian ever to take four wickets on his Indian Premier League debut, helping his team to an easy win against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite appearing at trials for multiple IPL franchises, Ashwani's humble village background and love for classic Punjabi food kept him grounded and motivated for his record-breaking performance. Coach Varinder Singh worked with Ashwani to develop his skills, and his proud mother, Meena Kumari, shared his love for besan ka chilla and aloo parathas with the media after the match.
Batting superstar Virat Kohli recently expressed his criticism towards the BCCI's decision to limit family time on international tours. This move has caused controversy, with players feeling that it affects their focus and personal well-being. Yuvraj Singh's wife, Hazel Keech, has spoken out in support of the updated policy, stating that it benefits both players and their families. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed that the rule will remain in place for the time being, citing its importance to the country and the board.
After leading the Indian cricket team to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, Virat Kohli has announced his next big goal - winning the ODI World Cup in 2027. Amid speculation about his potential retirement, Kohli made it clear that he is not looking to slow down anytime soon. Meanwhile, other Indian players, including Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, are set to retain their A+ grade contracts.
Pakistan's struggles continued in the second ODI against New Zealand as they lost seven wickets while chasing a target of 293. Star batter Babar Azam, who failed to perform in the first ODI, could only manage 1 run before being dismissed by Jacob Duffy. With fans and cricket enthusiasts expressing frustration over his ongoing struggles with the bat, the pressure is on Babar to deliver in the upcoming matches of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Despite his form difficulties, many still believe that Babar's class is permanent and a big innings is just around the corner.
In a high-scoring and intense game, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets, 140-139, in double overtime. Despite a career-high 61 points from Nikola Jokic, the Timberwolves were able to rally and secure the win with two clutch free throws from Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The win also marks the Timberwolves' fourth consecutive victory over the Nuggets this season.
Nishant Dev, a young boxer from India, has recently turned professional after being inspired by legends like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The 23-year-old made his debut in the professional boxing world after falling in love with the sport while watching YouTube videos. Despite his loss in the Paris Olympics, Nishant's decision to go pro was not influenced by that defeat and he continues to train hard under the guidance of former American boxer Ronald Simms.
KKR all rounder Ramandeep Singh gives glowing praise to Mumbai Indians' Ashwani Kumar for his four-wicket haul in Mumbai's victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 12 of the IPL 2025. Ashwani becomes the first player to achieve this feat on his IPL debut.
The Mumbai Indians started their IPL campaign with an 8-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, with 23-year-old pacer Ashwani Kumar stealing the spotlight with his impressive performance. MI skipper Hardik Pandya praised the team's scouting efforts for discovering Kumar's talent, and highlighted his crucial wickets of Andre Russell and Quinton de Kock as the game-changers for the team. Fans can catch all the latest updates from IPL 2025 on News24, and follow them on social media for breaking news and updates.