Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Awards King’s Cup to Al Ittihad After 3-1 Victory Over Al Qadsiah

Jeddah, The Gulf Observer: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presented the prestigious King’s Cup trophy to Al Ittihad Football Club on Friday evening, following their commanding 3-1 victory over Al Qadsiah in the final held at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

In front of a full-capacity crowd of 60,000 spectators, Al Ittihad delivered a dominant performance to secure their second major title of the season. The match was highlighted by the brilliance of French striker and team captain Karim Benzema, who scored twice and played a central role in the club’s triumph.

Benzema opened the scoring in the 34th minute, setting the tone for the night. Midfielder Houssem Aouar doubled the lead nine minutes later with a well-placed finish, further strengthening Al Ittihad’s control of the match. In first-half stoppage time, Al Qadsiah pulled one back through a penalty converted by Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Despite the goal, Al Qadsiah’s chances of mounting a comeback were dealt a severe blow in the final minutes of the match when Argentine midfielder Ezequiel Fernández was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card. Benzema added his second goal deep into stoppage time, sealing the 3-1 victory and extinguishing any lingering hopes of a Qadsiah resurgence.

The win marks Al Ittihad’s 10th overall King’s Cup title and their sixth under the restructured count of domestic competitions. It also caps an extraordinary season for the Jeddah-based club, who earlier claimed the Saudi Pro League championship ahead of long-time rivals Al Hilal.

With Friday’s triumph, Al Ittihad further solidified their dominance in Saudi domestic football, thanks in large part to Benzema’s leadership and crucial goals throughout the season.