In a thrilling encounter at the Saudi Professional League, Al Ittihad Jeddah edged past Al Shabab FC Riyadh with a 3-2 victory. The early strike from Al Ittihad set the tone just 30 seconds into the match, indicating their aggressive approach. Al Ittihad further capitalized on their momentum with a second goal in the 34th minute, demonstrating an efficient forward line that couldn't be handled by Al Shabab's defense.

Al Shabab, however, responded late in the first half, narrowing the score gap to 1-2. They maintained pressure with a defense-splitting goal early in the second half, making it 2-3 after Al Ittihad had restored a two-goal cushion. Notably, Al Shabab had an impressive nine corner kicks compared to Al Ittihad's two, indicating their dominance in offensive set-pieces, although they couldn't fully translate this advantage into goals.

Discipline and temperament surfaced as critical factors in the match's outcome. Both teams received two yellow cards each, but Al Shabab's frequent fouling seemed to disrupt their own rhythm, especially in the latter stages. Interestingly, Al Shabab's single offside call compared to none against Al Ittihad illustrated their slightly overzealous attacking movements, lacking the composure seen in Al Ittihad's more disciplined play.

Substitutions were tactically significant, yet equally matched in terms of fresh legs on the pitch, maintaining a balance without shifting the competitive equilibrium dramatically. The crucial edge was determined by Al Ittihad's superior accuracy and clinical execution, evidenced by outscoring despite fewer attacking opportunities. This fixture highlighted Al Ittihad's ability to withstand pressure and their effectiveness in converting critical chances, marking a high-stakes win in the league's narrative.

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