Fatih Terim’s Al-Shabab parts way from Saudi King’s Cup after Al-Ittihad loss

Fatih Terim‘s Al-Shabab squad was knocked out of the Saudi Arabian King’s Cup after suffering a 3-2 defeat to Al-Ittihad in the semifinals on Wednesday. Despite leading 2-1 in the final minutes of regular time, Al-Shabab’s hopes of advancing to the final were dashed by two goals conceded in the extra time.

The match took place at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, where Al-Shabab faced Al-Ittihad in a tense battle for a spot in the final. The game began with a setback for Al-Shabab when Al-Ittihad took the lead in the 14th minute. Brazilian star Fabinho converted a penalty, putting his team ahead 1-0. The first half ended with that scoreline, and the momentum seemed to shift in the second half.

Al-Ittihad’s advance in the final minutes

Fatih Terim’s side came out stronger in the second period, managing to take a 2-1 lead with two quick goals from Cristian Guanca in the 64th and 67th minutes. With just over 20 minutes remaining, Al-Shabab looked poised to secure their place in the final, holding on to their advantage. However, disaster struck in the final minutes of the game.

In the extra time, defensive errors allowed Al-Ittihad to claw back into the match. In the 90+2 and 90+9 minutes, Danilo Pereira, the star player for Al-Ittihad, scored two crucial goals, sealing a dramatic comeback for his team. Pereira’s brace not only eliminated Al-Shabab from the competition but also sent Al-Ittihad to the final.