Euphoric scenes witness coronation of title champion Al-Ittihad as Saudi Pro League season comes to a close

Arabian Weekly report

JEDDAH — Al-Ittihad Jeddah officially crowned the Saudi Professional League Champions in style on Wednesday night in the presence of thousands of jubilant fans who gathered to celebrate their favorite team’s coronation after a long wait of 14 years.

Al-Ittihad, which had already secured the league title in the penultimate round, celebrated its first title since 2009 with sealing an authentic win against the 8^th placed Al-Tai 2-0 in the 30^th round of the league match. Wednesday, May 31, witnessed final round matches as the curtain fell on the current Saudi Professional League season that lasted for 280 days.

Al-Jawhara Stadium of King Abdullah Sports City witnessed euphoric scenes when thousands of Al-Ittihad fans joined the celebrations, greeting their heroes. The fans erupted into joy and the sky was lit up with fireworks when Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazy, captain of the team, lifted the Roshn Saudi League Cup after receiving it from Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal. The colorful ceremony was held in the presence of Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Al-Mishal, and Saudi Professional League President Abdulaziz Alafaleq, and other dignitaries.

The Moroccan Abderazzak Hamdallah opened the scoring for Al-Ittihad with a penalty kick in the 73rd minute of the second-half, before Helder Costa added the second goal in the sixth minute of the injury time. The penalty goal also secured the golden boot to Hamdallah with his 21^st goal of the season, and this was after a fierce competition with Al-Nassr’s Anderson Talisca, who had 20 goals to his credit, while Al-Hilal’s Ighalo came third with 19 goals.

During the match, Al-Tai tried to spoil the title champion’s joy with presenting a tough match, featuring continuous aggressive attempts to score until the last breath of the confrontation, but to no avail.

Before the start of the match against Al-Tai, Al-Ittihad legend and former Saudi national team star Mohammed Noor entered the stadium, carrying the Roshn Saudi League Cup and placed it on the podium, amid applause and warm cheers from the fans.

Al-Ittihad had ended a difficult chapter in its historic career, during which it had been chasing a dream that had lasted for about 13 years, by winning the Saudi Professional League title for the 9^th time in its history, after defeating its host Al-Feiha 3-0 in the penultimate round of the tournament last Saturday.

This is also the first league title by the Portuguese Nuno Santo, head coach of Al-Ittihad, 18 months after he was dismissed by Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League.

Al-Ittihad, the Asian champions of 2004 and 2005, made outstanding performance during the current season as it lost only three matches, two in the league against Al-Hilal and Al-Taawon, and one in the King’s Cup against Al-Hilal. Al-Ittihad had won the Super Cup title for the first time in its history after defeating Al-Feiha in the match held in Riyadh in January this year.

By lifting Saudi Pro League title, Al-Ittihad has been qualified to represent Saudi Arabia in the FIFA Club World Cup, which will be held in Riyadh on December12- 22 this year.