Judge Gathering His grip on the top of the Saudi Football League continued with a 3-0 win over hosts Al-Wahda, with Frenchman Karim Benzema injured, while Al-Hilal secured their second straight win. Its guests Al-Itifaq won the series 2-0 in Monday’s fourth-leg matches.

At the King Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Makkah Al-Mukharramah, after a negative first half, Al-Ittihad scored a hat-trick in the second half by Brazil’s Romarinho (63), Portugal’s Joao Felipe “Joda” (67) and the Brazilian. Igor Cornado (73).

Al-Ittihad extended its lead to 12 points, maintaining its perfect start, while Al-Wehda remained sixth on its previous tie of 6 points.

Rookie Benzema suffered a thigh injury and was forced off the field at the end of the first half.

The first half was ordinary, especially from Al-Ittihad, when Hazza Al-Khamdi headed a powerful ball and had a chance for unity (24). Al-Ittihad missed a valuable chance when Abdul Razzaq Hamdallah penetrated with a ball down the left flank, but he played it just wide of the post (26).

Hamdallah missed a goal when he received a fortuitous ball and then faced goal, but he played it weakly into the hands of Abdul Quds Attia (33).

Benzema did not finish the match due to a hamstring injury, while Portuguese player Joao Felipe Jota (41) left his place. In stoppage time, Al-Wahda had a chance, but Moroccan Jawad Al-Yamik’s ball went over the post.

Early in the second half, Al-Wahda missed a clear chance when Brazil’s Anselmo de Moraes found himself in front of goal, but his ball was blocked by his compatriot goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe, which rebounded and was scattered by the defence. (47)

Al-Wahda continued to waste easy chances when Anselmo snatched the ball from the defense and faced goal, but he powerfully played it over the crossbar (55).

Al-Ittihad came close to scoring if not for the post that blocked Brazil’s Igor Coronado (60).

After a cross ball that the defense failed to clear, Al-Ittihad scored the winner when Brazil’s Romario da Silva collected the ball and sent it powerfully to the right of Abdel Quds Attia (63).

4 minutes later, Al-Ittihad strengthened their lead with a second goal, when Jota played a ball down the left side, before firing it powerfully into the goal (67).

From a quick counter-attack, Al-Ittihad added a third goal, Coronado kicking the ball in before Abdel Quds scored with a powerful ground strike to Attia’s (73) right.

Second straight win for Hilal

Goals from Brazil’s Malcolm de Oliveira (24) and Salem Al-Dosari (41) helped Al-Hilal beat hosts Al-Etifaq 2-0 at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.

Al-Hilal temporarily increased their score to 10 points in second place from 3 wins and a draw, while Al-Itifaq remained fifth with 7 points.

Malcolm took his tally to 4 goals, equaling Morocco’s Abdel Razek Hamdallah.

Malcolm opened the scoring with a powerful ball into the penalty area that settled to the right of Brazilian goalkeeper Paulo Victor, Al Etifaq goalkeeper (24).

Salem Al-Dosari doubled Al-Hilal’s score with a direct acrobatic shot in the 41st minute.

France 24/AFP