Nigerian striker George Ilenikhena continued his impressive goalscoring form as Al-Ittihad secured a 2-0 victory over Al-Diriyah in the Saudi Pro League on Friday, October 23, extending his scoring run to consecutive matches.
The 19-year-old forward opened the scoring in the 30th minute at Al-Ittihad’s home ground in Jeddah, reacting quickest to a rebound after goalkeeper Amin Al-Bukhari saved a shot from teammate Richard Rios.
Ilenikhena made no mistake from close range, placing the loose ball into the net to give the hosts the advantage. The goal was reviewed by the video assistant referee (VAR) before being confirmed, allowing Al-Ittihad to celebrate their breakthrough.
The strike followed another influential performance against Al-Ettifaq earlier in the week, when Ilenikhena scored and provided an assist in Al-Ittihad’s emphatic 4-1 victory. He was named Man of the Match in that encounter, underlining his growing importance to the team’s attacking efforts.
Against Al-Diriyah, the Nigerian forward again demonstrated his awareness inside the penalty area, positioning himself to capitalise when the goalkeeper could not hold Rios’ attempt.
Al-Ittihad looked to extend their lead before the break but had to remain patient against an opponent that continued to compete. Ilenikhena was replaced by Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri at half-time as head coach Jens Wissing adjusted his attacking options and managed his players’ minutes.
The second half produced another major talking point when Al-Ittihad appeared to have scored again through Danilo Pereira. However, the goal was disallowed following a VAR review, with the decision preventing the home side from immediately doubling their advantage.
Al-Diriyah subsequently introduced Darwin Nunez among several substitutions as they attempted to find a way back into the contest. The visitors threatened to make the closing stages uncomfortable for Al-Ittihad, but the home side maintained their advantage.
The decisive second goal arrived in the 77th minute from the penalty spot. En-Nesyri pursued a loose ball inside the penalty area and was brought down by goalkeeper Al-Bukhari, prompting the referee to award a spot kick.
Georginio Wijnaldum stepped forward and converted with a right-footed effort into the bottom-left corner, giving Al-Ittihad a valuable two-goal cushion.
The visitors were unable to mount a comeback, and their frustration deepened in stoppage time when Abdulelah Al-Malki was shown a red card, leaving Al-Diriyah to finish the match with 10 men.
The victory continued Al-Ittihad’s response to consecutive defeats against Al-Hilal and Shabab Al-Ahli earlier in October. Their convincing win over Al-Ettifaq had provided encouragement, and the latest result offered further evidence of the team’s attempt to regain consistency.
For Ilenikhena, scoring in successive matches is another positive development in a season in which he has been making the most of his opportunities. His movement, quick reactions and ability to finish from close range have added another dimension to Al-Ittihad’s attack.
The young striker previously played for Monaco before continuing his career in Saudi Arabia. His recent performances will be encouraging for Nigerian football followers as he seeks to establish himself at club level and strengthen his case for further opportunities with the national team.
Al-Ittihad will now look to build on the victory as the Saudi Pro League campaign continues. For Ilenikhena, the immediate challenge is to maintain his momentum and turn his recent scoring form into a sustained run of performances.
