Karim Benzema struck deep into stoppage time against Al Taawoun on Thursday night to catapult Al Ittihad back to the Roshn Saudi League summit.
The 2022-23 champions were made to work for their 2-1 victory in Buraidah, despite taking the lead midway through the first half when the in-form Abdulrahman Al Aboud pounced on a rebound to register his fourth goal in five RSL matches.
However, Al Taawoun equalised in the 10th minute of first-half added time. Faycal Fajr’s corner found Musa Barrow unmarked beyond the Al Ittihad back post, with the Gambian’s low volley deflecting off away defender Danilo Pereira and into the visitors’ net.
Al Ittihad, who went into Matchweek 19 second to Al Hilal only by virtue of goal difference, pushed to reclaim their advantage in the second half. However, a combination of a goal disallowed following a VAR intervention, and then the Al Taawoun woodwork, seemed set to deprive them of the victory.
Yet, in the 95th minute, Houssem Aouar found Benzema with a superb slide pass, leaving the Al Ittihad captain to finish left-footed past home goalkeeper Abdulquddus Atiah. It marked Benzema's 14th goal of the RSL season, moving him to within one of Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the scoring charts.
The goal sparked wild celebration among Laurent Blanc’s side, who go three points clear at the top of the table. Al Hilal, meanwhile, can reclaim the summit with a win at Damac on Saturday.
Afterwards, Aouar praised Al Taawoun for the challenge they presented, but added: “We did good at the end of the game, and I hope we can do better, but we are happy guys.
“We're fighting until the end of the game… the mentality is to never give up. And I think, in this team, we never give up with big players. We have big players, and they know that we can go until the end.”
