Benzema strikes at death to snatch draw in Sea Derby thriller with Al Ahli | OneFootball

Karim Benzema swept home a 94th-minute equaliser for Al Ittihad against Al Ahli in a gripping Sea Derby on Saturday night to boost the Roshn Saudi League leaders’ title chances.

The Frenchman, enjoying a superb season, met Abdulelah Al Amri’s low cross deep into stoppage-time to fire past Edouard Mendy and secure a 2-2 draw on an absorbing evening in Jeddah.

The share of the spoils moved Al Ittihad back to five points clear of Al Hilal at the top of the RSL table, with Al Nassr a further three back after Cristiano Ronaldo inspired his side to victory in the Capital Derby on Friday.

The third of three cross-city clashes to take place during the RSL’s second Derby Week, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad played out an encounter to remember at a packed Alinma Stadium.

It was Al Ahli, the designated hosts, who twice took the lead, first though Roger Ibanez’s towering header six minutes into the second-half from a Riyad Mahrez corner.

Al Ittihad fought their way back on 74 minutes, when Fabinho nicked possession from Al Ahli captain Franck Kessie and substitute Saleh Al Shehri rolled in Moussa Diaby, leaving the French winger to drill his shot through Mendy’s legs.

Al Ahli, who sit fifth in the standings, then thought they had won the match. Eight minutes from the end of normal time, an Al Ahli break down the left concluded with N’Golo Kante inadvertently redirecting the ball to Ivan Toney, who made no mistake from close range.

It represented the Englishman’s 17th goal of his debut season in the RSL.

However, not to be outdone, Benzema reached the same mark deep into injury-time, finishing high past Mendy to send the Al Ittihad supporters wild in celebration.