Al-Ittihad, coached by Nuno Espirito Santo, drew this Thursday at home with Al-Hazem (2-2) in the 11th round of the Saudi Football League and could see Jorge’s Al-Hilal Jesus the leadership will be pushed back even further.
Playing at home, the Saudi Arabian champions went into half-time with a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal from Frenchman Karim Benzema (26th minute), but Mohamed Al Thani equalized in the 63rd minute.
Al Ittihad took the lead again through Hassan Kadesh (81st minute), before Faiz Selemani equalized five minutes later.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, with one more game to play, are in fifth place with 21 points, five behind leaders Al Hilal, three behind Al Taawon (one more game) and one behind Al Nasr, Luis Castro, Cristiano Ronaldo and Otavio and Al Ahly.
Second-placed Al-Taawon could provisionally draw level with Al-Hilal at the top but were drawn 1-1 by Al-Khaleej, coached by Portuguese Pedro Emanuel.
The home team included Ivo Rodriguez and Pedro Rebocho, who provided the assist for Benfica’s Lisandro Lopez, but Al-Taawon equalized two minutes later through Brazilian Joao Pedro.
Al-Khaleej are 13th with 10 points, roughly three above the relegation zone.
Jorge Mendonça’s Al-Ahdoud lost 2-0 to Damak with goals from Ahmad Al-Zein (48′) and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou (69′).
The Portuguese coach’s team remains in 14th place with seven points, temporarily remaining above the waterline.