Al-Ittihad maintained their relentless pursuit of the Saudi Roshn League title with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Al-Fayha on Tuesday evening at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah. The win extends a remarkable unbeaten run that now spans ten consecutive professional league encounters against their opponents, cementing their status as one of Saudi Arabia's dominant forces this season.
Clinical Finishing Secures Three Points
Nigerian forward George Ilenikhena gave Al-Ittihad the advantage with a composed finish in the 43rd minute, but the hosts could not build on their lead before half-time. Al-Fayha struck back almost immediately when Jason Remeseiro levelled in the fourth minute of stoppage time, setting up a tense second half. The turning point came at the hour mark when Youssef En-Nesyri, Morocco's international, converted a penalty kick in the 68th minute to restore Al-Ittihad's lead and seal the contest.
This victory marks Al-Ittihad's second consecutive win and lifts them to 14 points after six matches. They now sit just one point behind leaders Al-Hilal and level on points with second-placed Al-Qadisiyah, keeping pace in what is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive Saudi League campaign. The defensive resilience shown in the closing stages, despite Al-Fayha's late pressure, demonstrates the mental strength required at the highest level of Saudi football.
- Al-Ittihad's unbeaten record against Al-Fayha now stands at 7 wins and 3 draws across ten matches
- This is their longest unbeaten streak against Al-Fayha in official professional league competition
- Al-Fayha remain rooted in 11th place with just 5 points from six games
For Al-Fayha, the defeat represents a third loss of the season and underscores the gap between themselves and the league's elite. With the campaign still in its early stages, their focus must shift to building momentum and climbing away from the lower reaches of the table. Al-Ittihad, meanwhile, will target next weekend's fixture knowing that wins are essential to challenge for the Saudi Roshn League title.
