Iraq’s Air Force Club beats Al-Ittihad in Iraq on Karim Benzema’s AFC Champions League debut
Ittihad’s French forward, Karim Benzema, vies for the ball with Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya’s Iraqi defender Hammoud Mishaan during the AFC Champions League Group C football match between Iraq’s Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, Iraq. Photo: AFP
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – In the AFC Champions League on Monday, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Air Force Club) in Iraq defeated the Saudi Arabian champions 2-0.
It is the first time Al-Ittihad has dropped two straight games since acquiring Karim Benzema.
Benzema, the captain, played the entire ninety minutes on Monday at Erbil’s 25,000-seat Franso Hariri Stadium.
N’Golo Kante and Jota, two other summer additions, also made their Al-Ittihad debuts, although the host team—which finished second in the Iraqi Premier League the previous year—outperformed its famed guests handily.
Just before halftime, 19-year-old Ali Jasim scored from 11 yards out to give Jawiya a well-earned lead.
The second goal was subsequently scored from closer range by Mohannad Abdul-Raheem following some careless Al-Ittihad defense.
Al-Ittihad has nine points out of a possible twelve in Champions League group C, which puts them in a solid position after Monday’s loss.
In ten games played in the Saudi Pro League, Benzema has scored five goals, which is seven fewer than Cristiano Ronaldo’s total for rivals Al-Nassr this year. However, Benzema made his AFC Champions League debut on Monday.