Ittihad Advances to King’s Cup Round of 16 with 3-0 Win Over Al-Najma

Al Ittihad secured their place in the Round of 16 of the King Cup after a convincing 3-0 victory over Al Najma in the Round of 32 clash on Tuesday night. The "Tiger" asserted their dominance from the start, earning a direct free kick in the 14th minute, but Danilo Pereira's shot hit the Al Najma defensive wall. George Elinika opened the scoring for Al Ittihad in the 16th minute, unleashing a powerful left-footed shot from outside the box that found the net, leaving the goalkeeper helpless. Coach Nuno Espírito Santo was forced to make an early substitution in the 27th minute, bringing on Ahmed Al Jlaydan for Carlo Simic, as his team continued to apply offensive pressure. Elinika quickly shone again, adding his second and Al Ittihad's second goal in the 31st minute, capitalizing on a forward run before firing from the edge of the area into the Al Najma net. Al Ittihad went into halftime with a two-goal lead, before Espírito Santo made another substitution at the start of the second half, introducing Farhat Al Shamrani for Hossam Aouar. Danilo Pereira completed the scoring in the 56th minute, rising to meet a cross inside the box and expertly heading it into the Al Najma goal. Al Ittihad maintained their lead throughout the remaining minutes, securing a clean sheet victory and ensuring their progression to the Round of 16, continuing their journey in the King Cup.