The secret is in the number 5: an immortality curse denies Al-Ittihad victory in their opening Roshan matches | Goal.com
Al-Ittihad couldn't shake off an old curse that has haunted their opening matches in the Saudi Roshn League, held at bay this time by Al-Khaleej. The secret lies in the number 5.
Al-Ittihad fell into the trap of a 1-1 draw with visitors Al-Khaleej at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah on Saturday, in the first round of the Roshn League.
According to statistics network "Opta", Al-Ittihad once again failed to extend their run of consecutive victories in Roshn League openers.
"The Dean" had won the opening match in each of the previous four seasons of the Roshn League, matching what they achieved on two previous occasions in the professional era, the last of which came between 2013 and 2016.
Beating Al-Khaleej would have delivered a fifth straight victory in openers, a number never before reached in the club's history. They fell short.
The result also means Al-Ittihad have now failed to beat Al-Khaleej in their last three meetings: two in the Roshn League and one in the semi-final of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup.
"The Tigers" played the final half-hour a man down. Portuguese defender Danilo Pereira was sent off in the 58th minute, dismissed straight away after a VAR review for kicking an Al-Khaleej player off the ball.
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