Watch Karim Benzema Score With Unusual Knee Volley As Al-Ittihad Bounce Back From Loss To Al-Hilal
Former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema scored an unusual winning goal as Al-Ittihad beat Al-Okhdood 1-0 away from home.
Using the point of his right knee, Benzema lifted the ball over the head of keeper Paulo Vitor from inside the six-yard box 72 minutes into Thursday's Saudi Pro League game.
Benzema had collected a cross from Haroune Camara moments earlier, before a sliding challenge by Saeed Alyami resulted in the ball bouncing into the French striker's path at shoulder height.
Rather than stooping to head the ball or waiting a little longer for it to drop for a conventional volley, Benzema stunned the crowd by instinctively kneeing a shot into the net.
Karim Benzema pictured (left) using his right knee to score a goal in Al-Ittihad's 1-0 win away at Al-Okhdood
YouTube/@ittihadclub
This was Benzema's third goal in the Saudi Pro League, coming in his sixth game in the competition.
He had previously netted three times in four matches in the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup.
Thursday's win saw reigning champions Al-Ittihad return to first place in the Saudi Pro League following a 4-3 defeat by title rivals Al-Hilal 13 days earlier.
Al-Ittihad had led 3-1 against Al-Hilal but an Aleksandar Mitrovic hat-trick helped the Riyadh side turn that game on its head.
Next up for Benzema and Al-Ittihad will be the start of their AFC Champions League campaign on Monday night when they host FC AGMK of Uzbekistan.