Youssef En-Nesyri scored his first goal for Al-Ittihad in just his second appearance on Tuesday, giving the Saudi side an early lead against Al-Gharafa in the AFC Champions League Elite.
The Moroccan striker found the net inside three minutes, although the visiting goalkeeper would feel he should have kept the effort out.
Meeting a low cut-back from the right, En-Nesyri finished first time from near the penalty spot. His shot lacked power and was directed straight at N’Diaye, who got a hand to it, but the ball still slipped through and rolled over the line to break the deadlock.
The forward completed his move to Al-Ittihad after a complicated transfer from Fenerbahce, which FIFA eventually approved following administrative delays.
He arrives as the club’s new attacking reference after Karim Benzema’s departure, with expectations high given his scoring record across Spain and Turkey.
En-Nesyri built his reputation in La Liga with Sevilla before continuing his progress in Istanbul, where he scored 38 goals in 79 matches. Now in Saudi Arabia, the 28-year-old wastes little time in making his mark, even if his first strike comes with a touch of fortune.