Al Ittihad held off a second-half push from Al Nassr to safe a 2-1 win, with George Ilenikhena scoring twice earlier than Angelo pulled one again for the guests.
Al Nassr threatened nearly instantly when Cristiano Ronaldo tried his luck from exterior the field contained in the opening two minutes, though Rajkovic made a cushty save.
But it surely was Al Ittihad who made the early breakthrough.
After Steven Bergwijn had been denied by Nawaf Al Aqidi, Ilenikhena struck within the fourth minute, heading into the bottom-left nook to provide the hosts the proper begin.
Al Nassr appeared for a right away response, however Al Ittihad continued to hold a menace and doubled their benefit after 22 minutes.
Houssem Aouar cut up the guests’ defence with a via ball into the trail of Ilenikhena, who saved his composure earlier than ending left-footed into the bottom-right nook.
The guests lastly started to create extra openings as the primary half progressed.
Ronaldo launched Joao Felix with a via ball within the thirty fourth minute, however Rajkovic saved his effort from the centre of the penalty space.
Two minutes later, Al Nassr discovered a means again into the competition. Angelo collected the ball contained in the field and completed together with his left foot to cut back the deficit to 2-1.
Rajkovic retains Al Nassr out
Al Nassr pushed for an equaliser after the restart and Joao Felix examined Rajkovic from a troublesome angle within the 53rd minute.
Ronaldo then had one other alternative 5 minutes later after being picked out by Angelo, however his left-footed try from contained in the field was gathered by the Al Ittihad goalkeeper.
Angelo nearly added a second moments in a while a fast counter-attack however despatched his effort broad.
The strain continued, with Samu Costa directing a header at Rajkovic after Angelo’s cross within the sixty fourth minute.
Al Ittihad responded by freshening up their assault, with Youssef En-Nesyri changing two-goal Ilenikhena and Marwan Al Sahafi additionally launched.
Al Nassr made modifications of their very own as Ayman Yahya changed the injured Kingsley Coman, whereas Abdullah Al Hamdan and Abdullah Al Khaibari had been later despatched on.
Joao Felix had two efforts blocked because the guests continued to push, whereas Mohamed Simakan headed broad from one other Felix supply.
Al Ittihad survive late strain
Al Nassr spent a lot of the closing levels across the Al Ittihad penalty space, profitable a succession of corners with out discovering the equaliser.
The hosts nonetheless carried some menace on the break, with substitute En-Nesyri heading broad earlier than Al Sahafi despatched one other header over the crossbar.
Al Nassr’s finest late alternatives got here throughout six minutes of added time.
Sadio Mane compelled Rajkovic into one other save after being discovered by Felix within the 91st minute, earlier than Al Hamdan was additionally denied from the precise aspect of the field shortly afterwards.
Ayman Yahya then noticed an effort blocked and Al Khaibari fired excessive and broad with one of many last makes an attempt of the match.
