Sadio Mané shines but Al-Nassr suffer Al-Ittihad defeat

Photo Credit – Saudi Pro League (@SPL/X)

Senegal international Sadio Mané scored and assisted, but Al-Nassr still fell 3-2 to Al-Ittihad in a pulsating Saudi Pro League match at Al -Awwal Park on Wednesday.

The Lion of Teranga put Al-Nassr ahead with only three minutes played, before he turned provider, setting up Ayman Yahya to make it 2-0 in the 37th minute. The first half ended with Mané and Al-Nassr carrying a 2-0 advantage.

Al-Ittihad started the second period with high intensity and were quickly rewarded in the 46th minute, when Karim Benzema finished from Abdulrahman Aloud’s cross to reduce the deficit. It was 2-2 in the 52nd minute when former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kanté found the back of the net, latching onto a ball from Muhannad Shanqeeti.

Algerian international Houssem Aouar ensured that Al-Ittihad carried the bragging rights from the battle, netting the winner in the 90th minute.

Mané has made 28 league appearances for Al-Nassr, logging nine goals and ten assists.

The defeat left Al-Nassr fourth in the league table with 60 points from 30 matches, while Al-Ittihad’s victory kept them top with 71 points from 30 matches.