In a dramatic AFC Champions League qualifying playoff, Al-Ittihad’s rising star, Turki Al-Ammar, was not the only one to steal the headlines. While Al-Ammar’s brace secured a 4-2 victory for his side, it was the performance of Al-Taawoun’s midfielder, Abdulaziz Al-Arini, that provided a stunning subplot to the night.
Al-Arini, who joined Al-Taawoun from Al-Ittihad last summer, opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a powerful strike, giving the visitors a shock early lead at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. His goal was a statement, showcasing the quality Ittihad had let go.
The midfielder wasn’t finished. In the second half, with Al-Taawoun trailing 3-1 and their hopes fading, Al-Arini struck again. In the 74th minute, he found the net to pull his team back to 3-2, briefly reigniting belief in a comeback and ensuring a tense finale.
Despite ending on the losing side, Al-Arini’s brilliant double against his former club was the major talking point. His relentless scoring form continues; this brace brings his tally to an impressive four goals in just his last three official matches for Al-Taawoun.
The match itself was a rollercoaster. After Al-Arini’s opener, Al-Ittihad responded with three goals before halftime through Ahmed Al-Ghamdi (24′), Turki Al-Ammar (38′), and Saleh Al-Amri (45+2′). Al-Ammar added his second and Ittihad’s fourth in the 66th minute, ultimately sealing their passage to the AFC Champions League group stage and ending Al-Taawoun’s continental journey for this season.
