Bergwijn at the double as Al-Ittihad keep pace with Al-Hilal

Al-Ittihad drew level with Al-Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League as Steven Bergwijn’s brace helped them fight back for a thrilling 4-3 win over Al-Kholood in Jeddah.

Laurent Blanc’s team entered Sunday’s game three points off top spot after Al-Hilal trounced Al-Akhdoud 4-0 on Friday.

Al-Ittihad were also hoping to get back to winning ways after going down 2-1 to Damac in their most recent game on Monday.

They had to do things the hard way as William Troost-Ekong and Myziane Maolida struck to put the mid-table visitors 2-0 up inside 23 minutes.

But Abdulrahman Al Obud danced through the Al-Kholood backline before lobbing Marcelo Grohe to halve the deficit, then a Bergwijn penalty made it 2-2 nine minutes into first-half stoppage time.

N’Golo Kante assisted Hassan Kadish as Al-Ittihad went ahead for the first time after 47 minutes, then Bergwijn reacted quickest to tap home after Karim Benzema showed fine footwork to force a save from Grohe.

Maolida’s second goal of the game ensured a tense finish, but the hosts held firm through eight minutes of stoppage time to match Al-Hilal’s pace at the top.

Earlier on Saturday, Al Fateh and Al-Qadisiyah played out a 1-1 draw at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium, as the visitors missed the chance to go above Al-Nassr into third.

Al-Qadsiah, who are captained by Real Madrid legend Nacho Fernandez and also have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in their ranks, went ahead inside two minutes via Julian Quinones.

However, Matheus Machado levelled just 80 seconds after coming on as a half-time substitute, ensuring bottom club Al Fateh earned a share of the spoils.

Al-Qadsiah stay fourth, behind Al-Nassr on goal difference, after Cristiano Ronaldo scored to help the latter to victory over Al-Raed on Thursday.