Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – September 12: Steven Bergwijn of Al Ittihad celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Saudi match for the league between Al Ittihad and Al -Fateh at the Al Inmaa stadium 12. (Photo: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images) Al-Intihad, who was missing their captain and star striker, showed no signs of slowing down when they defeated Al-Fateh 4-2 at home in the second round of Saudi for leagues. When Karim Benzema was displaced due to injury, all eyes turned to Steven Bergwijn and delivered the Dutch wing with the blistering of the first half of the strut to sealed the momentum soon. At night, when the questions were hung heavily on Benzem’s absence, it was Bergwijn who offered answers, and then some.
RECAPT MATCH: Al-Ittihad Outgun Al-Fateh without Benzema
Al-Intihad extended its perfect start to 2025–26 Saudi-Lig-Lig-Liga season 4-2 home victories over Al-Fate in high pace, sometimes chaotic meetings that have seen both teams decreased to ten men. Visitors first struck and broke the blocking in the 22nd minute. The midfielder entered the box, danced around Jorge Fernandes, and inserted the folded surface behind Fernando Pacheco into the far corner. Al-Fateh’s early aggression paid off, but their leadership took just over ten minutes. Matías Vargas brought Al-Itthad level in the 33rd minute before Steven Bergwijn turned the game on his head. The Dutch wing sharply responded to a diverted cross from Moussa Diaba in the 35th place and shoved the ball around Pacheco to be 2-1. Four minutes later he added his second one, which turned from a near range after she jumped kindly inside the area. Just before the half-life, Al-Fateh Mourad Battna Red saw the second yellow, the first for the dissent, the second for the rash challenge and leaned the numerical balance in favor of Al-Itthad. But this advantage did not last long. Goalkeeper Al-ITIHADA Predrag Rajković was sent in the 58th minute behind the foul of the last person outside the box and pulled the sides back to parity. Al-Fateh capitalized. In the 69th minute Sofiane Bendebka calmly transformed from a criminal place after he was overthrown by Mohammed Al-Absi, thus becoming 3-2. Their hopes of returning, however, were crushed at the time of stopping when Muhannad al-Shanqaeti was forward and buried the fourth al-iTihad and sealed points in front of the domestic crowd at the Al In Bank, King Abdullah Sports City. The hosts completed the match with 16 shots and seven on the target compared to a more efficient 2.04 XG Al-Fateh of smaller chances. In the end, however, it was Bergwijn’s clinical double, which leaned in balance – defining performance in the absence of Karim Benzem.
Steven Bergwijn: From Amsterdam to Jeddah and now the main man
Steven Bergwijn’s performance was not one -time tonight. Since his arrival in Al-Inthad, a 27-year-old man has constantly grown into his role. Bergwijn signed in the late summer window of Ajax Amsterdam and joined the Saudi champions for a fee exceeding EUR 21 million. He signed an agreement within June 30, 2027 with an estimated gross salary of EUR 9.18 million per year, is 176,538 euros per week, with the exception of bonuses. His journey to Jeddah was nothing but linear. Bergwijn, born in Amsterdam to the parents of Surinames, began his football education at Ajax’s Youth Academy. The dispute with the coach led him to leave for PSV Eindhoven, where he broke into the senior team in 2014 and won three Eredivisie titles in 2017–18 in 2017–18 in 2015 and 2018. In 2020 Tottenham Hotspur brought him to the Premier League for £ 26.7 million. He immediately had an impact on his debut against Manchester City, and later in 2022 released an unforgettable rebellion at the time of stopping against Leicester. After returning to the Netherlands with Ajax in July 2022 recorded a record EUR 315 million, the most expensive transfer in Eredivisia history. It has 35 caps for the Netherlands and scored 8 goals. His debut came in October 2018 in 3-0 victories over Germany in UEFA Nations League. Now in Al-Itthad, along with stars like Fabinho, N’Golo Kanté and Benzema, Bergwijn became the central point of the club’s offensive plan, especially in matches as today’s, where the leadership and execution were needed to the same extent.
Timeline and context: from 1st round to additional
The Al-Intihadova campaign began on 20 August with a dominant victory of 5-2 over al-Khdood. Benzema joined the hat trick (4 ‘, 51’, 60 ‘), Steven Bergwijn added one in the 7th minute and Saeed al-Rabiei scored its own goal to complete the sum. These victories set a tone, although defensive vulnerabilities were still obvious. Al-Okhdood, hosts that day, currently sitting on 16th place on the table while Al-Intihad climbed to 2. Meanwhile, Al-Fateh lost his introductory game 0-1 with Al-Fayh at home and hoped to return, but came across a sharper and more assertive opponent.Steven Bergwijn, who won the strut against Al-Fateh, has not been an isolated show of brilliance, continues to continue the formula of high-impact performances since his arrival in al-Intihad.The Dutch wing with subtitles at the beginning of the year during the Saudi El Clasico 23. In one of the most anticipated league accessories Bergwijn played the role of the main role, scored twice and caused confusion with the left wing. This result was the main statement in the title race and emphasized its ability to rise on the largest domestic scene.Fast forward to 21st May 2025 and Bergwijn found the net in the final league match of the 2024-25 season, 3-1 victories over al-raed. Given that the title had already secured two games earlier, the match was famous, but Bergwijn’s goal limited the dominant season in style. It was a suitable conclusion for the 10th Campaign Saudi for League Al-Intihad, a run in which Bergwijn played a defining role next to Karim Benzem. Looking forward, Al-Intihad Al Wahda faces Monday 15th September in the AFC Champions League at 21:30. Their home calendar is also marked by high -ranking clashes.
Tactical depth: Laurent Blanc team without Benzema
The absence of Karim Benzem as a result of the muscle injury, which suffered in training, was officially confirmed before the match, and the club states that it will undergo rehabilitation under medical supervision. There is no set timeline for its return and it remains unclear whether it will appear in the next few League accessories or Champions League. Tactically, his unavailability meant that Laurent Blanc manager had to reconfigure the front line. Rather than replacing a similar, the team accepted a more dynamic approach that Bergwijn allowed to work with greater freedom on the left side, sometimes driving centrally. The middle field entered the crossing and full back, especially al-Shanqaeti, provided a delayed width. In addition to the tactical shuffle, Benzem’s emptiness leadership was visible-but it temporarily masked Bergwijn’s sharp execution and performance with a high pace. Defense Al-Intihad still admitted two goals, signaling problems that may require tightening before the start of the continental game. Al-Fateh tried to retain through the middle field blocks, with players like Youssouf and Sofiane Bendebka having the ball and counterpart, but the defensive weaknesses disappoint them again. For a club built on starry power, it was a reminder tonight that the depth and adaptability of the victory of the matches, especially at the beginning of the season. Steven Bergwijn, often overshadowed by brighter names in the group, made his own case, not only as a supportive act, but as the creator of the difference in itself. Benzema’s return can be expected, but if something has done tonight, it is that Al-Itthad is more than the only show.
