No Benzema, no downside: Who is Steven Bergwijn? Dutch winger scores twice as Al-Ittihad beat Al-Fateh 4-2 | Saudi Football News

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – SEPTEMBER 12: Steven Bergwijn of Al Ittihad celebrates after scoring the 2nd aim through the Saudi Pro League match between Al Ittihad and Al-Fateh at Al Inmaa Stadium on September 12, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Missing their captain and star striker, Al-Ittihad confirmed no indicators of slowing down as they beat Al-Fateh 4-2 at house within the second spherical of the Saudi Pro League. With Karim Benzema sidelined attributable to harm, all eyes turned to Steven Bergwijn, and the Dutch winger delivered with a blistering first-half brace that sealed the momentum early. On an evening when questions hung heavy over Benzema’s absence, it was Bergwijn who supplied solutions, after which some.

Match recap: Al-Ittihad outgun Al-Fateh with out Benzema

Al-Ittihad prolonged their excellent begin to the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League season with a 4–2 house win over Al-Fateh in a high-tempo, at occasions chaotic encounter that noticed each groups diminished to 10 males. The guests struck first, with Houssem Aouar breaking the impasse within the twenty second minute. The midfielder drove into the field, danced previous Jorge Fernandes, and slotted a composed end past Fernando Pacheco into the far nook. Al-Fateh’s early aggression paid off, however their lead lasted simply over ten minutes. Matías Vargas introduced Al-Ittihad stage within the thirty third minute earlier than Steven Bergwijn turned the sport on its head. The Dutch winger reacted sharply to a deflected cross from Moussa Diaby within the thirty fifth, poking the ball previous Pacheco to make it 2–1. Four minutes later, he added his second, changing from shut vary after a rebound fell kindly inside the world. Just earlier than half-time, Al-Fateh’s Mourad Batna noticed crimson after a second yellow, the primary for dissent, the second for a rash problem, tipping the numerical steadiness in Al-Ittihad’s favor. But that benefit didn’t final lengthy. Al-Ittihad’s goalkeeper Predrag Rajković was despatched off within the 58th minute for a last-man foul outdoors the field, pulling the edges again to parity. Al-Fateh capitalized. In the 69th minute, Sofiane Bendebka calmly transformed from the penalty spot after being introduced down by Mohammed Al-Absi, making it 3–2. But their hopes of a comeback have been crushed in stoppage time, when Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti burst ahead and buried Al-Ittihad’s fourth, sealing the factors in entrance of a house crowd at Al Inma Bank Stadium, King Abdullah Sports City. The hosts completed the match with 16 pictures and 7 heading in the right direction, in comparison with Al-Fateh’s extra environment friendly 2.04 xG from fewer possibilities. But in the long run, it was Bergwijn’s medical double that tilted the steadiness — a defining efficiency within the absence of Karim Benzema.

Steven Bergwijn: From Amsterdam to Jeddah, and now the principle man

Steven Bergwijn’s efficiency tonight wasn’t a one-off. Since his arrival at Al-Ittihad, the 27-year-old has steadily grown into his position. Signed in a late summer season window transfer from Ajax Amsterdam, Bergwijn joined the Saudi champions for a price exceeding €21 million. He signed a deal working till June 30, 2027, with an estimated gross wage of €9.18 million per 12 months, that’s €176,538 per week, excluding bonuses. His journey to Jeddah has been something however linear. Born in Amsterdam to Surinamese mother and father, Bergwijn started his soccer schooling at Ajax’s youth academy. A dispute with a coach led him to depart for PSV Eindhoven, the place he broke into the senior crew in 2014 and went on to win three Eredivisie titles between 2015 and 2018. He scored in decisive matches, together with the 3-0 title-sealing win over Ajax in 2017–18. In 2020, Tottenham Hotspur introduced him to the Premier League for £26.7 million. He made a direct affect, scoring on debut towards Manchester City and later delivering a memorable stoppage-time brace towards Leicester in 2022. After returning to the Netherlands with Ajax in July 2022 for a record-breaking €31.25 million, the most costly switch in Eredivisie historical past, Bergwijn once more hit the bottom working, scoring a hat-trick in his second league look. Internationally, he has 35 caps for the Netherlands and has scored 8 targets. His debut got here in October 2018 in a 3-0 win over Germany within the UEFA Nations League. Now at Al-Ittihad, alongside stars like Fabinho, N’Golo Kanté, and Benzema, Bergwijn has turn into central to the membership’s attacking blueprint, particularly in matches like tonight’s, the place management and execution have been wanted in equal measure.

Timeline and context: From spherical 1 to what’s subsequent

Al-Ittihad’s marketing campaign started on August 20 with a dominant 5-2 away win over Al-Okhdood. Benzema netted a hat-trick that evening (4′, 51′, 60′), Steven Bergwijn added one within the seventh minute, and Saeed Al-Rabiei scored an personal aim to finish the tally. That win set the tone, though defensive vulnerabilities have been nonetheless evident. Al-Okhdood, the hosts that day, at present sit sixteenth within the desk, whereas Al-Ittihad climbed to 2nd place after tonight’s consequence. Al-Fateh, in the meantime, had misplaced their opening recreation 0-1 to Al-Fayha at house, and have been hoping to rebound, however ran right into a sharper, extra assertive opponent.Steven Bergwijn’s match-winning brace towards Al-Fateh wasn’t an remoted present of brilliance, it continues a sample of high-impact performances in pivotal moments since his arrival at Al-Ittihad.The Dutch winger made headlines earlier within the 12 months through the Saudi El Clasico on February 23, 2025, when Al-Ittihad dismantled their archrivals Al-Hilal 4–1 at King Abdullah Sports City. In one of many league’s most anticipated fixtures, Bergwijn performed a starring position, scoring twice and wreaking havoc down the left wing. That consequence was a significant assertion within the title race and underlined his capacity to rise on the most important home stage.Fast ahead to May 21, 2025, and Bergwijn as soon as once more discovered the online within the remaining league match of the 2024–25 season, a 3–1 win over Al-Raed. With the title already secured two video games earlier, the match was celebratory, however Bergwijn’s aim capped a dominant season in fashion. It was a becoming conclusion to Al-Ittihad’s tenth Saudi Pro League title marketing campaign, a run through which Bergwijn performed a defining half alongside Karim Benzema. Looking forward, Al-Ittihad faces Al Wahda on Monday, September 15, within the AFC Champions League at 9:30 PM. Their home calendar is additionally marked with high-profile clashes.

Tactical depth: Laurent Blanc’s crew with out Benzema

Karim Benzema’s absence attributable to a muscle harm suffered in coaching was formally confirmed forward of the match, with the membership stating he is present process rehabilitation below medical supervision. There is no set timeline for his return, and it stays unclear whether or not he’ll function within the subsequent few league or Champions League fixtures. Tactically, his unavailability meant supervisor Laurent Blanc needed to reconfigure the frontline. Rather than exchange like-for-like, the crew adopted a extra dynamic method, permitting Bergwijn to function with better freedom on the left flank, sometimes drifting centrally. The midfield stepped up in transition, and the full-backs, significantly Al-Shanqeeti, supplied late attacking width. Beyond the tactical shuffle, Benzema’s management void was noticeable — however briefly masked by Bergwijn’s sharp execution and a high-tempo midfield efficiency. Defensively, Al-Ittihad nonetheless conceded two targets, signaling points which will require tightening earlier than continental play begins. Al-Fateh tried to include by midfield blocks, with gamers like Youssouf and Sofiane Bendebka tasked with ball retention and counter-launching, however defensive frailties as soon as once more allow them to down. For a membership constructed on star energy, tonight was a reminder that depth and flexibility win matches, particularly early within the season. Steven Bergwijn, usually overshadowed by flashier names within the squad, has made his personal case, not simply as a supporting act, however as a difference-maker in his personal proper. Benzema’s return could also be awaited, but when tonight proved something, it’s that Al-Ittihad are greater than a one-man present.