Hamdallah sends Al-Ittihad six points clear on night of Saudi Pro League drama

JEDDAH: A late, late penalty from Abderrazak Hamdallah in Jeddah on Thursday gave Al-Ittihad a dramatic 2-1 win over Al-Shabab, a six-point lead at the top of the Roshn Saudi League and a sight of a first title since 2009. 

It was a tale of four penalties, three scored and one missed in the most extraordinary of fashions.

A first half spot kick from Hamdallah put the Tigers ahead but Cristian Guanca levelled after the break for the visitors.

With just a couple of minutes of regulation time remaining, Aaron Boupendza had a chance to become a hero for Al-Shabab only to see his penalty saved by Ittihad hero Marcelo Grohe. With 100 minutes on the clock, Hamdallah showed how it is done and the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium went crazy.

It was a high-quality and thrilling dramatic encounter between the league’s first and third placed teams. The result means that Al-Ittihad are six clear of Al-Nassr in second while Al-Shabab are now nine behind and surely out of the reckoning. 

The league leaders made the breakthrough after 18 minutes. From a free-kick that was rolled into the area,  Boupendza brought down the turning Romarinho. There were the expected checks and protests but it all ended with another inevitable outcome as Hamdallah coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner past the diving Kim Seung-gyu.

It did bring a response from the men in white who wasted no time in trying to get back on level terms. First there were calls fro a penalty for the away team when a Grzegorz Krychowiak cross seemed to hit the arm of Madallah Al-Olayan.

Shortly after Hassan Al-Qahtani headed straight at the goalkeeper and then Iago Santos fired just wide with a low shot. There was an even closer attempt just after the half hour