Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri led Al-Ittihad to a 3-1 victory over hosts Al-Faisaly on Friday at King Salman Stadium in the opening match of the seventh round of the Saudi league, scoring twice to move his team temporarily top of the standings. Dutchman Steven Bergwijn opened the scoring for Al-Ittihad in the 28th minute, benefiting from a pass by Colombian midfielder Richard Rios, before En-Nesyri added the second in the 43rd minute from a cross by Nigerian George Ilenikhena.
En-Nesyri takes season tally to four goals
Ilenikhena created the third goal when he passed to En-Nesyri, who scored his second of the match in the 59th minute. The brace took the Moroccan striker’s season tally to four goals, the same number Bergwijn reached with his goal in the match.
The team moved temporarily top by one point ahead of Al-Qadsiah, who drew 3-3 with Al-Ettifaq, and by two points ahead of Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr. Al-Hilal, the former leaders, visit Al-Taawoun on Saturday, while defending champions Al-Nassr face hosts Al-Khaleej on the same day in the seventh round.
