Al-Ittihad’s Resurgence: Clinical Saudi Side Crushes Al Shorta in Baghdad, Signaling Renewed Ambition in Asia
BAGHDAD — For a moment, the Al-Zawraa Stadium pulsed with hope. Five minutes into a crucial AFC Champions League clash, Bassam Shakir’s rapid strike gave Al Shorta the lead, igniting the belief that Baghdad’s storied club could finally find their footing on the continental stage. But that belief vanished as quickly as it arrived. By the final whistle, the 1-4 scoreline told a different story—one of Al-Ittihad FC’s emphatic awakening, propelled by Moussa Diaby, Fabinho, and a Houssem Aouar masterclass, even as the Saudi giants played nearly half the match with ten men.
From the opening exchanges, Al Shorta, tenth in the West Region table, looked hungry to reverse their continental fortunes. Their early goal, a swift counter punctuated by Shakir’s finish, suggested the hosts might finally shake off the inconsistency that has haunted their campaign. Yet it took just 12 minutes for reality to bite. Diaby, the French international, peeled away from his marker and slotted home, leveling the score with the precision of a veteran. The goal not only canceled Al Shorta’s advantage but also shifted the momentum irreversibly in the visitors’ favor.
Fabinho, the Brazilian midfield sentinel, soon added a second, rifling a low shot into the net just before the half-hour mark. The goal exposed Al Shorta’s defensive fragility—a theme in recent weeks—as they ceded ground and possession to an Al-Ittihad side determined to escape the bottom of the group. The Saudis, winless and pointless in their first two matches, played with a desperation that belied their star-studded roster, but also a clarity of purpose that had been missing in previous outings.
The contest’s most dramatic twist came five minutes into the second half, when Danilo Pereira was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge. With a numerical advantage, Al Shorta had the chance to claw their way back. Instead, the hosts’ attacking verve wilted under the pressure of Ittihad’s organized defense and swift transitions. Aouar, the Algerian playmaker, seized control, scoring twice—first with a delicate chip over the onrushing keeper, then with a driven finish from the edge of the box—to put the result beyond doubt. His brace, completed with 14 minutes remaining, was a reminder of the individual quality that has made Ittihad a force in Asian football when at their best.
For Al Shorta, the defeat is the latest blow in a campaign that has oscillated between promise and frustration. Their domestic form—three wins in their last four Iraqi league matches—has offered glimpses of potential, but in Asia, they remain winless, with a lone draw against Al Sadd their only point in Group play. Their defense, which had looked solid in narrow league victories, was repeatedly exposed by Ittihad’s attacking trio, raising questions about whether manager Nabil Zaki can balance domestic demands with the rigors of continental competition.
Al-Ittihad, meanwhile, will take more than three points back to Jeddah. After a rocky start to both their Pro League season and their Champions League campaign, this performance—played mostly with ten men, no less—was a statement of intent. The win lifts them off the bottom of the group and, crucially, restores belief in a squad packed with international experience. The contributions of Diaby, Fabinho, and Aouar, combined with a disciplined defensive shift after Pereira’s dismissal, suggest that the Saudi club’s early struggles may have been a temporary stumble rather than a terminal decline.
Historically, these sides have met only occasionally in continental competition, and this result will stand as their most lopsided encounter in recent memory. While Al Shorta’s home record had been a source of pride, Ittihad’s ruthlessness in Baghdad signals a shift in the regional power dynamic—at least for this matchday.
With the group stage at its midpoint, the stakes for both clubs are now sharply defined. For Al Shorta, the task is clear: find a way to translate domestic form into continental results, or risk another early exit from Asia’s elite competition. For Ittihad, the challenge is to build on this momentum, using the confidence from a road win to fuel a surge up the table. The road to the knockout stages remains steep, but for one night in Baghdad, the Saudis showed that reports of their demise may have been greatly exaggerated.
As the lights dimmed over Al-Zawraa Stadium, the chants of the traveling supporters echoed long after the final whistle. In a tournament where every point is precious, Al-Ittihad’s resounding victory may well be remembered as the turning point in their season—and a harsh lesson for Al Shorta in the unforgiving world of Asian football’s elite.