Former Man United Striker Odion Ighalo Lights Up Saudi Arabia PL Clash With First-Half Brace

The former Red Devils star bagged his first brace in Saudi Arabian football to power his side to a fantastic league win on Monday afternoon

Odion Ighalo proved to be the difference-maker as the Nigerian striker scored a first-half double to guide Al Shabab to a narrow 2-1 away win over Damak in a Saudi Professional League match at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium.

Ighalo set the ball rolling for the visitors in the 12th minute when he got on the end of a brilliant cross into the box from left-back Abdullah Al Zoari to glance a downward header past goalkeeper Moustapha Zeghba. 

Argentine attacker, Emilio Jose Zelaya, equalised for the home side in the 20th minute, profiting from some slack Al Shabab defending.

But Ighalo handed back the advantage to manager Carlos Hernandez’s men when he capitalised on a fine delivery from Fábio Martins to nod home his second goal of the afternoon five minutes before the interval.

It proved to be the winning goal as both teams could not breach each other’s defences after the break.

Ighalo, who did not manage a single Premier League goal for Manchester United during his year-long loan deal at Old Trafford, now boasts three league goals and an assist in his first five matches for Al Shabab.

The 31-year-old got his first goal in Saudi Arabian football in Al Shabab’s 4-0 thrashing of A Nassr on February 13.

With 44 points after 21 games, Al Shabab top the league table, leading second-placed Al Hilal by five points with only nine matches left to be played in the regular league campaign.