Al-Ittihad secured a 2-1 victory over Al Nassr in the King’s Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, with star player Karim Benzema scoring one of the goals. Despite being reduced to ten men for much of the game, Al-Ittihad managed to come out on top.

The match saw Benzema open the scoring in the 15th minute, giving Al-Ittihad an early lead. However, Al Nassr’s Angelo Gabriel equalized at the half-hour mark, restoring parity. Hossam Aouar then scored in first-half stoppage time, putting Al-Ittihad ahead 2-1. Despite having a strong attacking lineup, including Joao Felix, Sadio Mane, and Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr was unable to find the equalizer.

In the second half, Al Nassr pushed hard for a goal, but Al-Ittihad’s defense held strong. Following the match, Benzema posted a picture of himself celebrating his goal, stating, “Big win tonight… Important for the team and our fans. When we talk, we do.” In a post-match interview, Benzema noted that the win was not easy, but his team showed determination from the start. He added that they followed the coach’s instructions and were happy with the result.

The goal marked Benzema’s fourth for Al-Ittihad this season, in just seven appearances. The victory is significant for Al-Ittihad, as it advances them to the next round of the King’s Cup. The competition is a key part of the Saudi Arabian football calendar, and Al-Ittihad will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches. With this win, Al-Ittihad has demonstrated its strength and resilience, and will likely be a team to watch in the remainder of the tournament.