Al-Ittihad will go into the delayed 2020 Arab Club Champions Cup final in confident mood after a 3-0 win against Al-Raed on Monday night in the second round of Saudi Pro League at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
The SPL match was brought forward as the Jeddah club prepare for Saturday’s final, also known as the Mohammed VI Champions Cup, against Raja Casablanca at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Al-Ittihad were unrecognizable from the team that surprisingly lost 1-0 to Al-Fayha last week, racing to a three-goal lead by halftime, the first scored by Saudi international Fahad Al-Muwallad, who made a promise to the club’s supporters.
“We will fight to win the Arab Club Champions Cup, and we will return from Rabat with the championship cup,” Al-Muwallad said.
“We pledged that the loss to Al-Fayha would be a lesson that we benefited from.”
Al-Ittihad took the lead through Al-Muwallad’s 7th-minute penalty after Al-Raed Brazilian defender Rene Santos handled the ball.
The lead was doubled on the quarter-hour mark through a firm header by Egyptian international Ahmed Hegazi, and Romarinho scored the third minutes before the break to end any remaining hope for the visitors.
Al-Raed came close to reducing the deficit in the second half, but Ahmed Al-Zein’s powerful shot was saved by Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe.
The home team responded with a series of breakaway attacks led by Al-Muwallad and Romarinho, but there would be no addition to the scoreline.
