Karim Benzema was the catalyst with two goals as he led Al Ittihad to a 3-1 win over Al Qadsiah in the Saudi King's Cup final on Friday to add to the league title already in their possession.

 

Laurent Blanc's side were on top from start to finish to lift the cup for the 10th time.

Moussa Diaby should have put  Al Ittihad ahead in the 21st minute but squandered his opportunity while Al Qadsiah defender Nacho escaped conceding a penalty when the ball touched his hand, but the referee didn’t award a spot-kick despite a VAR check in the 32nd minute.

 

Al Ittihad, however, were not to be denied the opening goal with Benzema using his chest to convert Steven Bergwijn's cross in the 34th minute.

Houssem Aouar doubled the advantage in the 43rd minute, pouncing on the rebound after Koen Casteels saved a header from Benzema.

 

Former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time.

Benzema rocked the crossbar after the break as Al Ittihad adopted a more cautious approach to the game with keeper Predrag Rajkovic saving Aubameyang’s shot in the 80th minute.

 

Al Qadsiah's hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 81st minute following a second yellow card for Ezequiel Fernandez with Benzema then firing in Diaby's low cross in stoppage time to end the final in style.

Muharraq Club brought their league season to a close with a 2-0 win against A'Ali.

Elliot Simoes (51st) and Mohamed Al Hardan (penalty, 90+22) netted as the champions finished on 51 points, nine ahead of Khalidiya, who suffered a 2-0 defeat against Sitra.

 

Khalidiya's 42 points meant they finished four ahead of Sitra, with Al Riffa - who lost 3-1 to Al Shabab - also on 38 points but ending fourth on goal difference.

 

Al Shabab ended the campaign fifth with 30 points.