In the world of football, sometimes just one touch makes all the difference. On a tense Tuesday night in Jeddah, Karim Benzema's second-half volley did just that, lifting Al Ittihad over PFC Nasaf in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26. The roar at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium said it all.

Al Ittihad, a powerhouse of the Saudi Pro League, desperately needed a win. They found themselves locked in a battle with Nasaf, a team still hunting for their first point in the campaign. But, it wasn't easy. Early on, Nasaf's goalkeeper, Abduvakhid Nematov, made sure of that. He was a wall, thwarting Ahmed Al Ghamdi's shot in the eighth minute, just barely nudging it onto the post. Al Ittihad had possession, they had chances, yet breaking through seemed elusive.

As the first half ticked away, frustration mounted for the hosts. They hit the woodwork again when Nematov parried Moussa Diaby's cross, only for Benzema to see his follow-up ricochet off the upright. It felt like one of those nights where the ball just wouldn't cooperate. But the game of football isn't merely about luck or chance. It's about strategy and adjustments.

Sergio Conceicao, the man calling the shots for Al Ittihad, knew changes were needed at halftime. He pushed Fabinho into midfield, brought Roger Fernandes onto the left flank, and hoped for a spark. And it came. Just 12 minutes after the restart, Fernandes delivered a perfect cross. Benzema was there, waiting at the back post, and he didn't miss. The volley was clinical, the celebration deafening.

Even after that moment of magic, the drama wasn't over. Nasaf wasn't going down without a fight. In the 77th minute, Adenis Shala nearly flipped the script with a counterattack. But Al Ittihad's goalkeeper, Pedrag Rajkovic, wasn't having it. He blocked the attempt, maintaining the slim lead.

Al Ittihad wanted more. They pushed, they pressed, and they hit the woodwork again. Benzema's header, destined for glory, was tipped onto the bar by Nematov, who was having a night to remember, despite the scoreline. But the challenges kept coming. Injury forced substitute Faisal Al Ghamdi off the field, leaving Al Ittihad down to 10 men for the final stretch. It didn't matter. They held firm, managing the closing stages with grit and determination.

When the final whistle blew, it was a hard-fought victory. Benzema's strike didn't just secure three points; it officially dashed Nasaf's hopes of reaching the Round of 16. A night of tension, drama, and ultimately triumph for Al Ittihad. Football, in all its unpredictability, had delivered once again.