In a thrilling semifinal clash, Al-Ittihad pulled off a stunning late comeback to defeat Al-Shabab 3-2 and book their place in the final of the King’s Cup of Champions. The match, filled with twists and turns, saw Al-Ittihad snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with two dramatic stoppage-time goals.
A Rollercoaster Encounter
Al-Ittihad took an early lead when Brazilian midfielder Fabinho converted a penalty in the 14th minute. However, Al-Shabab fought back in the second half, with Argentine playmaker Cristian Guanca stealing the spotlight with two quickfire goals in the 64th and 67th minutes.
With Al-Shabab leading 2-1 deep into added time, the game seemed all but over, until Al-Ittihad’s Portuguese midfielder Danilo Pereira emerged as the hero. He first equalized in the 92nd minute before delivering the knockout blow just seven minutes later, sealing a breathtaking 3-2 win.
Historic Final Awaits
Al-Ittihad, now through to their 10th King’s Cup final, will face the winner of the other semifinal between Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Raed. The Jeddah giants are looking to add to their impressive trophy cabinet, though they still trail rivals Al-Ahli (13 titles) and Al-Hilal (11 titles) in the all-time standings.
Dramatic Comeback! Al-Ittihad Stuns Al-Shabab to Reach King’s Cup Final
