Despite Al-Qadsiah scoring four goals: Al-Ittihad, with 10 players, spoil Reynders' first night and snatch their first win

The Tigers achieved a marathon victory

Al-Ittihad claimed their first win in the Saudi Roshn League in a marathon encounter against hosts Al-Qadsiah, despite the latter finding the net four times, on the night their new Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders made his debut.

Al-Ittihad beat Al-Qadsiah 1-0 at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam on Friday, in the second round of the Saudi Roshn League.

Nigerian striker George Ilenikhena settled it in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, lashing a powerful left-footed strike from outside the penalty area.

Al-Qadsiah, by contrast, scored four goals, three of them through Mexican striker Julián Quiñones. Every one was disallowed, either for offside or for a foul in the build-up.

Quiñones was not the only one denied. Al-Ittihad's Morocco forward Youssef En-Nesyri also had a goal chalked off in the half, caught in the offside trap.

What a shift Al-Ittihad put in. Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajković repelled a string of dangerous Al-Qadsiah attacks, particularly in a second half the Jeddah side played entirely with 10 men.

Senegal midfielder Dion Lopy saw red in the 47th minute after picking up a second yellow for a strong challenge on Al-Qadsiah's Portuguese player Otávio, but his teammates covered for his absence.

Reijnders, the new arrival from Manchester City, could not save his side from defeat despite coming off the bench for his first appearance around a quarter of an hour into the second half.

Victory hands Al-Ittihad their first of the current Roshn League campaign after a 1-1 draw with Al-Khaleej in the opening round, taking them to four points and fourth in the table.

Al-Qadsiah, meanwhile, tasted defeat for the first time this season having beaten Al-Shabab in round one. They slip to eighth on just three points.