Benzema bags third goal in three games for Al-Ittihad

The Frenchman came off the bench to score a penalty to give his team victory against Iraq’s Al-Shorta. Al-Ittihad top Group A with three wins from three.

Messi, Cristiano and Benzema have inadvertently done internet sports portals a massive favor by leaving Europe to see out the final years of their careers in the United States and Saudi Arabia. Their matches are keenly followed and their statistics, despite being in less prestigious competitions, have prompted debates among football lovers in forums, in bars... A hat-trick for Cristiano in the Saudi league, a brace for Messi in the MLS or Benzema’s blistering start with Al-Ittihad feature among the most-viewed news items in any sports publication.

As for the French Ballon d’Or holder, he gives the impression that he is followed out of longing. He still has enough football left in the tank to be at the highest level and that has been in evidence during the early rounds of the Arab Club Champions Cup, in which he has needed just two short moments at half throttle to be decisive. This evening, against Iraqi outfit Al-Shorta, Benzema played 20 minutes and scored the winning goal for his team (1-2) from the penalty spot on 84 minutes - that goal allowed the Saudi team to advance to the Arab Club Champions Cup quarter finals as leaders of their group.

Al-Ittihad have a team that has functioned beyond the new wave of signings from the Saudi league. Without big stars to count on, they were more than a match for Cristiano’s Al-Nassr. In five months, CR7 scored 14 goals in 16 games but that still wasn’t enough to snatch the Pro League title from Al-Numoor. With former Valencia, Wolves and Spurs manager Nuno Espiritu Santo at the helm, it shows. And since they clinched the league title, they now have Benzema, Kanté, Jota and Fabinho, which suggests that they will continue to be the team to beat in the Saudi league.

Their superiority in the region is being proven in the current Arab Club Champions Cup. Against Al-Shorta Nuno fielded a team full of substitutes and went in at the break dominating the game and leading thanks to Bamsaud’s 36th-minute opener.

Benzema entered the match in the second half, with just over 20 minutes remaining. He monopolized his team’s attacking game and, although he could do little about Moumoni’s equalizer in the 80th minute, it was evident that he was never going to lose his nerve from the penalty spot four minutes later.