In a match defined by tactical discipline and late-game heroics, Al-Ittihad secured a vital 1-0 victory over Al-Hazem at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium yesterday, Friday, April 3, 2026.
Despite playing with a numerical disadvantage for over an hour, the Tigers showed the grit of champions to take all three points in this Round 27 clash.
The Turning Point: Diaby’s Red Card
The match took a dramatic turn in the 33rd minute when French star Moussa Diaby was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge.
The Situation: Al-Ittihad were forced to reorganize their entire tactical setup, shifting into a defensive shell to absorb Al-Hazem’s pressure.
The Resistance: Even with 10 men, the Jeddah giants limited the visitors' clear-cut chances, heading into the halftime break at 0-0.
The Hero: Abdulrahman Al-Aboud’s Magic Touch
Portuguese manager Sérgio Conceição turned to his bench in the 64th minute, bringing on Abdulrahman Al-Aboud to inject some much-needed pace. It proved to be a masterstroke.
72nd Minute Goal: Following a "magical" pass from Algerian playmaker Houssem Aouar, Al-Aboud found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He kept his cool, slotting a precise low shot into the bottom corner.
Breaking the Drought: This was Al-Aboud’s first goal of the season, marking a triumphant return to form after a difficult period sidelined by injuries and selection issues.