Video: Al-Ittihad settle classic against Al-Nassr and hand a precious gift to Al-Hilal
A fiery Clásico
Al-Ittihad edged a thrilling clasico in the fifth round of the Roshn Saudi Pro League, beating visitors Al-Nassr 2-1. They dominated the first half before Al-Nassr came roaring back after the break, chasing a comeback that fell just short of an equaliser.
The result leaves Al-Nassr stuck on 12 points in second, three behind leaders Al-Hilal. "The Boss" now sit on 15, while Al-Ittihad climb to fourth on 11. Al-Hilal, then, are the biggest winners of this clasico.
A fiery start from Al-Ittihad
Al-Ittihad tore out of the blocks, throwing fierce attacking intensity at Al-Nassr and pressing them across every area of the pitch. That heavy pressure left "the global club" struggling to breathe, especially when they tried to work the ball out of their own third.
Al-Nassr couldn't build. They couldn't get the ball out under such relentless Al-Ittihad pressure, and that handed their opponents a clear advantage through the opening minutes of the Clasico.
Four minutes was all Al-Ittihad needed to turn their superiority into a goal. Nigerian George Ilenikhena found the back of Al-Nassr's net to hand his side the perfect start to the showdown.
Elenikhina continues to shine
Al-Ittihad kept up the heavy, fierce attacking pressure after the opener, hunting for a second. Elenikhina looked to have delivered it in the 15th minute.
Their joy did not last. The referee disallowed the strike for offside, leaving Al-Nassr trailing by a single goal despite Al-Ittihad's obvious superiority.
Elenikhina would not be denied. A few minutes on, she struck again and this time it counted, restoring Al-Ittihad's two-goal cushion in the 22nd minute and underlining her clinical touch in the Clasico.
Al-Nassr regains its balance and closes the gap
Half an hour in, Al-Nassr began to iron out the errors that had crept into their early play. Bit by bit, they shrugged off Al-Ittihad's pressure and found their way into dangerous areas.
The fightback paid off in the 36th minute. Angelo unleashed a powerful strike that flew into the Al-Ittihad net, pulling Al-Nassr back into the contest before the break.
Al-Nassr pressure and Al-Ittihad resistance
Al-Nassr emerged for the second half transformed. They came flying out with fierce intensity and relentless pressure, chasing an equaliser and riding the attacking momentum they had carried into the interval.
Al-Ittihad, by contrast, dropped deep to protect their lead. Their players threw themselves into a valiant rearguard action, and the burden fell heaviest on the defence and Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajković through these testing minutes.
Read also: Video: En-Nesyri's substitute lights up the Clásico and rewards Al-Ittihad's coach
The equaliser nearly came in the 55th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo unleashed a powerful strike towards the Al-Ittihad goal, but Rajković was equal to it, dealing with the ball superbly to preserve his side's advantage.
Still the pressure would not relent. Rajković shone again in the 60th minute, denying a powerful Mohamed Simakan header as he continued to repel Al-Nassr attempt after attempt.
Credit belongs to the goalkeeper. He returned for the second half razor-sharp, guarding his goal with immense skill, saving more than one dangerous chance and keeping his side in front despite Al-Nassr's ferocious attacking pressure.
