Odion Ighalo scored a hat-trick as Al Wehda recorded a 4-2 win over 10-man Damac FC in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday evening.
The Knights of Mecca suffered back-to-back defeats against reigning champions Al-Ittihad and against Al-Tawoon and clearly needed a response on home soil against the Knights of the South.
Ighalo provided that response when he opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Damac equalised in the 36th minute via Gambia forward Assan Ceesay but misery followed the visitors after Noor Al Rashidi received a straight red for a handball in the penalty box. Ighalo stepped up to take the resultant spot kick and converted it.
The ex-Nigeria international completed his hat-trick in the 52nd minute to take his tally to four goals in four games this season.
17':⚽
45+1': ⚽
52': ⚽@IghaloJude puts away a hat-trick in the RSL! ????????????#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/VQ1EWF3Xwk— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) September 14, 2023
Australia forward Craig Goodwin made it 4-1 to Al-Wehda 10 minutes later before Sultan Faqihi halved the deficit for Damac seven minutes to the end of regular time.
Al Wehda’s victory moves them up to seventh place on the table with nine points, level with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and will face Abha FC in their next league meeting next Friday.
