Al-Ittihad roared back into the Asian Champions League with a spectacular 3-0 triumph over AGMK of Uzbekistan on September 19.
The Jeddah powerhouse made a grand return to the tournament after their last appearance in 2019, delighting their fervent home supporters.
While the spotlight was on the absence of the injured star striker Karim Benzema before the match, Coach Nuno Santo displayed a formidable array of attacking talent.
In a blistering first-half performance, Al-Ittihad established an insurmountable lead, leaving no doubt about the outcome.
AGMK, aiming for their maiden journey to the knockout stage and coming off a fourth-place finish in the Uzbek Super League, showed promise initially but found themselves trailing after just 11 minutes.
Muhannad Al-Shantiqi’s shot was expertly parried by Botirali Ergashev, but Haroune Camara capitalized on the rebound with a clinical finish.
Shortly afterward, Camara was at it again, this time showcasing his skills on the left side of the box. Although his shot was blocked, Romarinho was on hand to calmly slot the ball into the net from close to the penalty spot.
Surprisingly, the score remained 3-0 after 21 minutes as Abderrazak Hamdallah and Al-Shanqiti broke through the Uzbek defense but were denied by Ergashev’s lightning-quick reflexes.
However, just before the halftime whistle, the referee awarded Al-Ittihad a penalty for a foul on Hamdallah. Romarinho, poised at the spot, coolly placed the ball into the bottom corner, further extending their lead.
Despite Hamdallah’s injury and a relatively uneventful second half, Al-Ittihad maintained a firm grip on the game and secured the victory. The outcome was never in doubt, with Al-Ittihad content to retain possession and manage the game.
The upcoming fixture could prove pivotal for Al-Ittihad’s campaign as they square off against Sepahan in Iran on October 02. With the top group finishers and the best second-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage, this match promises to be one for the books.
For now, Al-Ittihad shifts its focus to domestic action against Al-Fateh, trailing league leaders Al-Hilal by just one point.
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