Al Ittihad delivered a dominant 7-0 victory over Qatar's Al-Gharafa in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday, clinching their place in the knockout rounds. Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar starred with a hat-trick in the one-sided match held in Jeddah. The result propelled the Saudi Pro League champions to 12 points and fifth in the standings.
In a commanding performance at home in Jeddah, Al Ittihad overwhelmed Al-Gharafa with seven unanswered goals, ensuring advancement to the next phase of the Asian Champions League Elite under coach Sergio Conceicao.
The scoring began early when Youssef En Nesyri, who recently joined to replace Karim Benzema, converted Muhannad Al-Shanqiti's low cross from the right in the third minute. Houssem Aouar extended the lead in the 20th minute with a right-footed sweep into the bottom corner. After halftime, Roger Fernandes added the third in the 49th minute by sliding in to finish.
Two minutes later, Danilo Pereira headed in Aouar's cross from a corner, capitalizing on poor marking. Aouar netted his second in the 58th minute via a volley, before Fernandes guided home the sixth four minutes later. Aouar completed his hat-trick 11 minutes from time, sealing the emphatic win.
This victory moved Al Ittihad to 12 points, placing them fifth in the standings and four points ahead of ninth-placed Sharjah FC with one league phase round remaining. Al-Gharafa, meanwhile, suffered a heavy defeat in their bid for progression.
The top eight teams from both East and West Asia will advance to the last 16, contested on a home-and-away basis. Subsequent quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final are scheduled for a centralized format in Saudi Arabia in April.
