JEDDAH: Karim Benzema fired Al-Ittihad to a 3-0 win over Al-Fayah on Sunday to put his team within touching distance of the Saudi Pro League title.
The Tigers are now nine points clear of Al-Hilal in second with three games remaining. If Al-Hilal lose their game in hand against Al-Orubah on Monday, it will virtually be all over.
Just when a little frustration was starting to creep in at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium, Benzema showed his attacking ability in the 24th minute.
The former Real Madrid marksman swapped passes with Unai Hernandez on the left corner of the area, but there was still a lot of work to do.
Surrounded by defenders, the Frenchman made a little space for himself and then fired a low shot into the opposite bottom corner for league goal number 20.
Number 21 came nine minutes after the restart. Abdulrahman Al-Oboud slipped the ball into Benzema on the edge of the area and the Frenchman side-footed coolly home, the goal of a striker confident and in form.
The 37-year-old went off with an injury soon after, but he had already done the damage to take the team toward a vital win.
The points were sealed with 14 minutes remaining. Mohammed Al-Baqawi tried to get to a cross before Al-Oboud, only to shoot past his own goalkeeper into his own net.
Earlier in the day, Al-Qadsiah moved into third place with a 1-0 win at Al-Taawoun. An own goal from Andrei Girotto was enough to seal the win for the visitors.
The newly promoted club went above the newly crowned Asian champions. Al-Ahli lost 3-1 at Al-Shabab.
The star of the show was Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored twice — goals number 149 and 150 in the SPL, to take him within four of the record holder Omar Al-Somah — and 20 and 21 this season.
The Moroccan was then sent off for a second yellow card with 13 minutes remaining, but the real headlines belonged to Benzema.
