Al Faisaly 1–3 Al Ittihad | Pro League | September 11, 2026

Result Summary

Al Ittihad delivered a commanding away performance to claim a 1–3 victory over Al Faisaly in the Saudi Pro League. A brace from Youssef En-Nesyri and an opener from Steven Bergwijn proved more than enough for Jens Wissing's side, with Théo Bongonda's late consolation doing little to alter the outcome. The result continues to underline Al Ittihad's quality as a genuine title contender.

Match Analysis

Al Ittihad took control of the contest early, and it was Bergwijn who broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, finishing with his right foot from an assist by Richard Ríos. The goal was well-constructed and reflected Al Ittihad's superior composure in key moments. Despite Al Faisaly generating 59 attacks to their opponents' 47, the home side struggled to convert pressure into genuine danger — finishing with just 2 shots on target from 10 total efforts, compared to Al Ittihad's 4 shots on target from 12.

The gap widened further just before the break when En-Nesyri netted his first of the evening in the 43rd minute, again assisted by the impressive George Ilenikhena. Heading into the break two goals down, Giovanni Solinas made an immediate change, introducing Théo Bongonda in place of Eid Al-Muwallad at half-time.

Hasan Kadesh received a yellow card in the 48th minute for a foul — the only disciplinary incident of the match — but it failed to shift momentum. En-Nesyri wrapped up the scoring in the 59th minute, this time finishing with his left foot, again assisted by Ilenikhena, who had an exceptional afternoon before being withdrawn alongside Ríos at the hour mark for Georginio Wijnaldum and Mukhtar Ali respectively.

Al Faisaly did manage a response late on, when substitute Bongonda cut through to score in the 87th minute from a Saud Haddad assist, but it was merely a consolation. Al Ittihad's 55% possession and 87% successful pass rate reflected their overall control, while their 11 key passes to Al Faisaly's 8 demonstrated a sustained threat throughout.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast called for an Al Ittihad win at 54% probability, ultimately returning a correct outcome. The confidence rating of 58/100 was appropriately measured — Al Faisaly at home is rarely straightforward — yet the final scoreline suggested Al Ittihad were even more dominant than the moderate confidence implied. The predicted scoreline of 0–1 underestimated the visitors' attacking output, but the directional call was validated.

Key Takeaways

• En-Nesyri and Ilenikhena formed a devastating partnership, combining for two goals in a match-winning second striker-to-forward connection.
• Al Faisaly's clinical deficiency was their undoing — 59 attacks but only 2 shots on target highlight a fundamental conversion issue under Solinas.
• Wissing's depth was evident in the substitution patterns, with Wijnaldum and Saleh Al Shehri coming on to manage the game out professionally.
• Al Ittihad's clean sheet until the 87th minute speaks to their defensive organisation; the late Bongonda goal does little to diminish their control.