In an unforgettable showdown, Al-Ittihad overcame Al-Hilal 3-1 in a dramatic penalty shootout on Tuesday, advancing to the King’s Cup semifinals. The intense clash in Riyadh ended 2-2 after 120 minutes of thrilling action.
Predrag Rajkovic emerged as the hero, saving three penalty kicks to secure Al-Ittihad’s victory. The Jeddah club celebrated a remarkable triumph against their fierce rivals.
First Half Drama
The first half began on a sour note for Al-Hilal, with star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic exiting after just 13 minutes due to injury. Three minutes later, Salem Al-Dawsari almost gave Al-Hilal the lead, but his powerful shot struck the post.
Karim Benzema tested Yassine Bono after 26 minutes with a curling effort that the Moroccan goalkeeper saved brilliantly. Moments before halftime, Benzema found the net, but his effort was ruled offside, keeping the game scoreless.
Second Half Fireworks
Benzema broke the deadlock just after the hour mark, converting a cross from Muhannad Al-Shanqiti with clinical precision. Al-Hilal responded in the 72nd minute when Salem Al-Dawsari equalized with a composed finish.
Al-Hilal took the lead in the 101st minute through Marcos Leonardo, who finished a perfect cross from Moteb Al-Harbi. However, Benzema quickly restored parity with a stunning close-range finish, sending the game to penalties.
Penalty Shootout Dominance
Rajkovic dominated the shootout, saving efforts from Mohamed Kanno, Marcos Leonardo, and Malcom. Fabinho and Danilo Pereira converted their kicks, while Benzema also scored. Al-Ittihad celebrated a 3-1 shootout victory, joining Al-Qadsiah, Al-Shabab, and Al-Raed in the semifinals.
