Al Ittihad 3–2 Al Hazm | Pro League | 24 August 2026

Result Summary

A pulsating encounter at Al Ittihad's fortress delivered everything a neutral could hope for. Al Ittihad edged out Al Hazm 3–2 in a match that swung back and forth before the home side ultimately asserted their quality. Despite twice being pegged back, Jens Wissing's men found the resolve to claim all three points, though Al Hazm under Jalel Kadri pushed them far harder than many anticipated.

Match Analysis

Al Hazm drew first blood as early as the 18th minute, when Abdul Aziz Sulaiman Al Dhuwayhi converted with a right-foot finish from an Afimico Pululu assist, silencing the home crowd and handing the visitors a surprising lead. Al Ittihad responded purposefully, and Steven Bergwijn restored parity in the 34th minute, capitalising on a precise delivery from Houssem Aouar to level proceedings with a composed right-foot strike.

Half-time arrived with tension in the air, not least due to a flurry of bookings — Aboubacar Bah and Amine Ben Hmida cautioned for Al Hazm, while Marwan Al Sahafi picked up a yellow deep into stoppage time, which also triggered a VAR review in the 37th minute. The second half began with further cautions for Al Ittihad's Hasan Kadesh (50') and Faris Abdi (53'), reflecting a physical, high-tempo contest.

The match took another turn in the 59th minute when Sofiane Bendebka nodded home from a Saud Al-Rashid cross to restore Al Hazm's lead — a well-worked set piece that exposed vulnerability at the back. Wissing responded promptly, introducing George Ilenikhena for Youssef En-Nesyri at the hour mark, a tactical shift that injected fresh energy into Al Ittihad's attack. The home side found their third goal to eventually win the game, completing what the statistics strongly supported should happen.

The numbers throughout told a clear story of Al Ittihad dominance in volume: 54% possession, 15 total shots to Al Hazm's 8, and a significant 6 shots on target versus just 2 for the visitors. Their 44 dangerous attacks to Al Hazm's 27 underlined their territorial superiority. However, Al Ittihad's 21 fouls compared to Al Hazm's 11 highlighted an at-times ragged defensive shape, and a late VAR check on Danilo Luís Hélio Pereira in the 78th minute added further late drama. Despite the profligacy, 87% passing accuracy reflected Al Ittihad's technical quality throughout.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast called for a 2–0 Al Ittihad home win, assigning the home side a 63% probability of victory with a confidence rating of 64/100. The winner prediction proved correct — Al Ittihad did indeed claim the points — though the scoreline was a far more dramatic 3–2, rather than the clean sheet anticipated. Al Hazm's resilience and clinical edge on the counter, reflected in their two goals from just two shots on target, made this a far less comfortable ride than forecast. The prediction captured the result's direction accurately but underestimated Al Hazm's capacity to threaten.

Key Takeaways

• Steven Bergwijn and Houssem Aouar combined effectively, providing Al Ittihad's creative spark in the first half.
• Al Hazm's efficiency was remarkable — two goals from two shots on target is a brutally clinical return.
• Jens Wissing's substitutions, particularly the introduction of Ilenikhena, helped turn the tide after the second Al Hazm goal.
• Al Ittihad's disciplinary record (five yellows, 21 fouls) will be an area Wissing must address going