Wild Game Featuring Four Penalties, Two Panenkas And A 106th-Minute Winner Sees Al-Ittihad Move Six Points Clear Of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr In Saudi Pro League Title Race

There were 4 penalties, 2 Panenkas and a red card as Al-Ittihad beat Al-Shabab 2-1 to go 6 points clear of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Al-Ittihad 2-1 Al-Shabab

One of the most dramatic games of the Saudi Pro League season resulted in leaders Al-Ittihad moving six points clear of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr in the title race.

Al-Ittihad, coached by former Tottenham and Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, needed a 106th-minute penalty kick to beat third-placed Al-Shabab on Thursday.

That was one of four penalties awarded at King Abdullah Sports City.

The winning spot-kick came after Al-Shabab had failed to convert an 89th-minute penalty of their own when Aaron Boupendza's attempted Panenka resulted in him chipping the ball into the arms of goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe.

Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe pictured standing up to save an attempted Panenka-style penalty kick from Al-Shabab striker Aaron Boupendza :: Saudi Sports Company SSC/Twitter/@ssc_sports

To rub salt into Boupendza's wounds, Abderazak Hamdallah's winning goal in the 16th minute of added time came from a successful Panenka penalty, albeit one which was rather poorly executed as the ball stayed fairly low.

Morocco international Hamdallah had earlier opened the scoring from the spot to put Al-Ittihad 1-0 up on 18 minutes.

Al-Ittihad had only conceded eight goals in their first 23 games this season but Al-Shabab leveled midway through the second half when Cristian Guanca coolly converted from 12 yards.

As well as awarding four penalties, referee Milan Mihajlovic dished out seven yellow cards and one red.

Al-Ittihad were reduced to 10 men five minutes into added time when Zakaria Al Hawsawi was sent off.

Al Hawsawi will now be suspended for Al-Ittihad's next game, which is away at Al-Taawoun next Wednesday.

Match Highlights (Al-Ittihad 2-1 Al-Shabab)

كلاسيكو الجزائيات🔥

✅حمدالله⚽️⚽️
✅جوانكا⚽️
❌ارون بوبيندزا#الاتحاد_الشباب⁩⁩ | ⁦#SSC pic.twitter.com/4VDNpIGhLp

— SSC (@ssc_sports) April 27, 2023

Both Al-Ittihad and Al Nassr now have six Saudi Pro League fixtures remaining this season.

As well as having six points more than Al Nassr, Al-Ittihad have a superior head-to-head record against their main rivals this season.

With results between teams being used as the initial tiebreaker for teams level on points in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Ittihad are effectively 6.5 points ahead of Ronaldo and Co.