00:00And we're underway, it's Alouette all in red, kicking from right to left in the first half
00:12who get us underway. New faces in both of these sides and so far new faces that have
00:18proven to be positive acquisitions. Diaby, it's a great chance, Benzema's shot saved,
00:27brilliant save made by Dierubarena and so nearly a goal here with a minute on the watch
00:34and it's breathless end-to-end football. As Alouette now venture forward, Goodwin into
00:41the penalty area and the opportunity to clear and it's nudged forward by N'Golo Kante. And
00:48now once more again, Aleti had up to the edge of the Alouette, penalty area, it's a sensational
00:57goal. Karim Benzema, he's had two chances in the opening two minutes of the game and he's taken
01:06the second of them. This is what Benzema is all about, he just opens himself up, pulls wide to
01:10the left, a couple of touches, he knows what he's doing, he's got one thing on his mind, opens
01:15himself up and then he rifles the ball into the top left-hand corner. That is why he's still a
01:20world-class striker, what a finish.
01:31Ball played forward, could be an opportunity for an equaliser there for Igalo, big save by
01:36Raikovic. Really big save by Raikovic, he's hurt his ankle, spreads himself, makes himself big,
01:42Igalo, you expect him to score from there.
01:49Having arrived from Spain last month now, here's Moussa Diaby, keeping defenders busy, great ball in, 2-0,
01:57created by Moussa Diaby and Hussein Aouar is there again, 3-3 for him, 2-0 Al Etihad and we've only been
02:08playing for a dozen minutes. Well, it's been end-to-end, hasn't it, and it was Diaby, the man
02:12that was just speaking about his pace, his directness, and it was one long ball from the
02:16goalkeeper, the pace of Diaby, what we spoke about, he's got that threat, he doesn't even look up,
02:20comes here from the goalkeeper, long ball, he's inside his own half, Diaby, so he's onside, just
02:26gives the defender a little nudge, that's why they are where the team are moaning to the referee,
02:29gets him behind and credit to him, he doesn't look up, he just switches it into the middle, straight
02:34into his path. Yousef Amin, sent it in and Danilo sent it on its way, there's going to be a free kick here,
02:47let's have a look here, yeah, it's one of those borderline ones now, isn't it, I think the rule is
02:57this, the shirt sleeve, isn't it, I think, clamber up off the canvas and get themselves back into the
03:03match here, they'll need to take advantage of situations such as this, it's Craig Goodwin who
03:09strikes it and brings the save, and they are back in the game, and Raikovic is beaten and it's 2-1,
03:18and Amin, the Iraq international, brings Alweda right back into it, he's clearly onside, it's a
03:28brilliant finish from Amin, the goalkeeper's Raikovic has got to do so much better, it's a
03:33simple save for the goalkeeper, but it's a fantastic finish from the youngster, Diaby, it's a lovely ball
03:43from Diaby into Benzema, beautiful control, great chance for number three and off the line, wow, that had
03:52goal written all over it, this is the only opportunity, Benzema's first touch, rolls it into Awar, fantastic
04:01clearance off the line really is, anywhere else it's a goal, great play by Benzema, yeah, what a great stop that was
04:17Diaby, Fabinho, three, right on the stroke of halftime
04:24and the two-goal cushion for Al Etihad is restored, almost on the stroke of halftime
04:34the marking was terrible, such a simple goal, Fabinho in acres of space, six yards from goal
04:41easiest header he'll get for a long time, short corner was too easy
04:45by Benzema, headed by Diaby, swinging it forward, this is Steven Bergbein
04:56into Benzema, looks to tee it up, what a start to the second half, Karim Benzema
05:04scored the first goal right at the start of the game and has done the same thing after the kick-off
05:11at the start of the second period, Benzema, incredible talent, run off the shoulder there
05:17causes problems all day long for Alweda, but it's Benzema, he's still got so much work to do
05:22he's surrounded by three Alweda defenders, it's Steven Bergbein once again
05:25holds the ball up really well, what a fantastic finish, two brilliant goals from a superstar
05:32Bergbein available on the near side, Kadesh in possession, here's Moussa Diaby, it's opening up
05:39now for Diaby, and it's in at the far post, Fawaz Al-Sakr surging forward
05:50and the former Alweda player adds to his old club's pain, well it's Diaby again isn't it
05:56look how many times he's run to perfection and his pace has been a problem all night, it's a great ball
06:00he just locks up, lays it across the box and Al-Sakr coming in at the far post, not sure whether he gets
06:05the final touch with it, it's an own goal, I'm sure Sakur wants it, so simple, just breaks through the
06:10back line, Diaby there looks up, really good pass into his pan, remember Benzema on a hat-trick
06:18look how sprightly he's looking still, we're into the last 10 minutes of the game and the fact that he's even
06:24and Benzema, whisker away from that hat-trick goal, that stopped abruptly, I was going to say the fact
06:31that he's even still on the field with his team so comfortably leading, but I suspect there's a
06:34conversation we've had with the manager, I'm on a hat-trick, I'm staying on
06:41oh it's on the header for number six
06:50brilliantly done
06:54surely puts the finishing touches on an excellent night, substitute El-Shery with the header
07:03on a full-time whistle, cannot come soon enough for the players of Al-Oueda
07:11they've won each of the last eight meetings before today, it might get even worse now for a winner
07:16Benzema has his hat-trick and it's a magnificent seven for Al-Itihan
07:25he's looked hungry for goals, he's not wanted to go off the pitch and once again this is the exact
07:30reason why, the back lines breach far too easily again, good pacing behind, look at Benzema's drive
07:36his determination and he's so clever, he holds his run, he doesn't go offside, the ball's played a
07:41little bit behind him but he actually alters his stance onto his left foot, such a good finish
07:47ready for your thoughts
07:48that'll do it, what a night for Al-Itihan, they have completely taken Al-Oueda apart
08:01and the star of the show Karim Benzema with a hat-trick, his second in Saudi football
08:07what a start for Laurent Blanc as the new head coach of Itihan, they maintain their 100% start
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