Steven Bergwijn Hat-Trick and Tijjani Reijnders Goal Drive a Dutch Night in Saudi Pro League

Two Dutch internationals arrived at very different moments in their Saudi Pro League journeys on Monday night.

Steven Bergwijn is already established at Al-Ittihad and increasingly looks like the player capable of dragging the club through difficult matches when the rest of the attack loses rhythm.

Tijjani Reijnders is only beginning his Al-Qadsiah career.

By the end of Round 3, both had changed important games.

Bergwijn scored all three Al-Ittihad goals in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Al-Hazem, completing his first Saudi Pro League hat-trick with two penalties and carrying the Tigers through another uncomfortable evening.

Hours earlier, Reijnders scored his first Al-Qadsiah goal on his first league start, helping Brendan Rodgers’ side beat NEOM 2-0 away from home and recover immediately from Friday’s painful defeat against Al-Ittihad.

The results created a distinctly Dutch story across the Saudi Pro League, but the significance extends beyond nationality.

Al-Ittihad now have seven points from three matches after dropping points on opening day and then winning two difficult games in very different ways.

Al-Qadsiah have six points from three, with Reijnders already beginning to show why the club viewed him as a major midfield addition.

The official Saudi Pro League report described the two Dutch performances as a defining feature of Round 3, with Bergwijn claiming his first league hat-trick and Reijnders scoring on his first start.

For readers following the league’s wider rise, The Sports Encounter’s analysis of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi chapter examined how the league has increasingly become a destination where major European players continue shaping high-level careers rather than simply winding them down.

Saudi Pro League Round 3: Monday’s Key Results

Bergwijn Turns Another Difficult Al-Ittihad Night Into Three Points

Al-Ittihad’s season has already required more resilience than fluency.

The club began with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Al-Kholood.

That result immediately raised questions because the Tigers entered 2026-27 needing a stronger start after a turbulent previous campaign.

The response came against Al-Qadsiah.

Al-Ittihad won 1-0 despite playing much of the second half with 10 men after Dion Lopy was sent off. George Ilenikhena scored the decisive goal in first-half stoppage time, and the visitors then spent the second half defending increasingly deep against sustained pressure.

The official Saudi Pro League match record confirms Al-Ittihad’s 1-0 victory in Dammam and the pressure they survived after going down to 10 men.

Monday produced a different kind of test.

This time Al-Ittihad did not need to defend a narrow advantage.

They needed to repeatedly recover from Al-Hazem’s willingness to attack.

Al-Hazem Strike First

Al-Hazem opened the scoring in the 18th minute through Abdulaziz Al-Dwehe.

Afimico Pululu created the opening with a low cross, and Al-Dwehe was left free enough to finish from close range.

That immediately placed Al-Ittihad in another uncomfortable position.

Three matches into the season, the Tigers had already drawn against Al-Kholood, survived Al-Qadsiah with 10 men and were now trailing at home to Al-Hazem.

This was exactly the kind of moment capable of turning an uncertain start into a genuine early-season crisis.

Bergwijn stopped it.

Bergwijn’s First Goal Changes the Match

The Dutch forward equalized in the 34th minute.

Unlike the two penalties that followed, this was the goal that best demonstrated his individual quality.

Bergwijn received the ball around the edge of the penalty area and drove a powerful effort into the upper part of the net.

Al-Ittihad had not constructed an elaborate team move.

They needed one player to change the emotional direction of the game.

Bergwijn did it.

Seven minutes later, he had another opportunity.

Mohamed Ben Hamida conceded a penalty.

Bergwijn converted.

Al-Ittihad went into halftime leading 2-1.

Al-Hazem Refuse to Disappear

A weaker opponent might have accepted the momentum shift.

Al-Hazem did not.

Sofiane Bendebka equalized in the 59th minute with a powerful header, restoring the uncertainty that had defined the first half.

The goal forced Al-Ittihad into another uncomfortable final half-hour.

This is where the early season becomes interesting.

Al-Ittihad are not yet controlling matches in the manner expected of a title contender.

They are surviving them.

There is a difference.

Survival is useful in August.

It becomes unsustainable if the same defensive and structural problems remain in October.

Bergwijn Completes the Hat-Trick

With nine minutes remaining, Al-Ittihad received a second penalty.

Bergwijn converted again.

The 81st-minute goal completed his hat-trick and settled the match 3-2.

According to the Saudi Pro League, it was Bergwijn’s first hat-trick in his 49th league appearance for Al-Ittihad.

It was also his third career hat-trick.

The result moved Al-Ittihad temporarily to the top of the league with seven points from three matches.

That position may change as the rest of the round is completed.

The more important point is the trajectory.

Al-Ittihad have taken seven points after appearing vulnerable in all three matches.

Al-Ittihad’s First Three Matches Tell a Complicated Story

Seven points from nine is championship-level output.

The performances have not yet been championship-level.

That tension will define Al-Ittihad’s next few weeks.

Bergwijn Is Becoming Al-Ittihad’s Crisis Player

That may be the most important conclusion from Monday.

Every serious team needs a player who can rescue a match that is not following the tactical plan.

Bergwijn is increasingly becoming that player for Al-Ittihad.

He joined the club in 2024 after leaving Ajax and has gradually increased his influence within the Saudi attack.

The hat-trick against Al-Hazem took him to 41 goals for Al-Ittihad across competitions since his arrival, according to current reports.

More importantly, it demonstrated the different ways he can hurt opponents.

His first goal came from open play and individual execution.

The next two demanded penalty composure while the match remained finely balanced.

A hat-trick containing two penalties can sometimes be dismissed too easily.

That would misunderstand what happened here.

Al-Ittihad still needed someone capable of earning the responsibility, converting twice under pressure and producing the open-play goal that started the comeback.

Bergwijn did all three.

Al-Ittihad Still Need More Than Bergwijn

The praise should not obscure the problem.

A title contender cannot repeatedly depend on one player producing decisive moments after the team falls behind.

Al-Ittihad conceded first against Al-Hazem.

They were pushed deep by Al-Qadsiah.

They dropped points against Al-Kholood.

The results have improved faster than the performances.

That is encouraging and concerning at the same time.

For a wider comparison with how Saudi football has evolved around high-profile international players, TSE’s analysis of Matthias Jaissle’s work at Al-Ahli examined how tactical structure has become increasingly important in a league once discussed primarily through star recruitment.

Al-Ittihad need that structural improvement too.

Reijnders Gives Al-Qadsiah the Response They Needed

While Bergwijn was rescuing Al-Ittihad, Tijjani Reijnders was providing a different kind of lift for Al-Qadsiah.

The Dutch midfielder made his first Saudi Pro League start away to NEOM after appearing from the bench against Al-Ittihad three days earlier.

His first full appearance immediately produced his first goal.

Reijnders opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a strike from outside the penalty area.

The timing mattered because NEOM had begun aggressively and was applying sustained pressure.

Al-Qadsiah needed calm.

Reijnders provided it with the first major chance that came his way.

Why Reijnders Matters to Al-Qadsiah

Al-Qadsiah did not sign Reijnders simply to add another famous European name.

They signed a midfielder capable of changing how the team progresses the ball.

His strongest qualities are useful in several phases:

• carrying possession through midfield pressure
• breaking defensive lines with forward passing
• arriving late around the penalty area
• shooting from distance
• linking deeper midfielders with the forward line

Monday’s goal came from exactly that broader profile.

He did not need to occupy the penalty box permanently.

He found the space outside it and punished NEOM.

That type of midfield scoring could become extremely important for Al-Qadsiah.

Retegui Makes It Safe

Al-Qadsiah doubled the lead in the 56th minute.

Abdulmalik Al-Ayiri was penalized after intercepting a cross from Christopher Bonsu Baah, giving the visitors a penalty.

Mateo Retegui converted.

The match ended 2-0.

Al-Qadsiah’s official match report confirms the victory and Reijnders’ first goal for the club.

The result moved Al-Qadsiah onto six points after three matches.

Al-Qadsiah’s Start Is Stronger Than the Table Alone Suggests

Their three matches have already contained useful information.

Al-Qadsiah opened with a 3-1 victory over Al-Shabab.

They then lost 1-0 to Al-Ittihad despite creating enough chances to believe they should have taken something from the match.

Several goals were ruled out, while Al-Ittihad spent much of the second half with 10 men.

That defeat could easily have unsettled a team carrying significant preseason ambition.

Instead, Al-Qadsiah went away to NEOM and won 2-0.

This is why the Reijnders goal matters beyond the individual milestone.

It helped stop one defeat from becoming a sequence.

Brendan Rodgers Now Has More Midfield Control

Reijnders gives Brendan Rodgers another way to control games.

Al-Qadsiah already possess significant attacking quality through players such as Mateo Retegui and Julián Quiñones.

The challenge is supplying them consistently without becoming predictable.

Reijnders can operate deeper than a traditional No. 10 while still arriving in scoring areas.

That allows Rodgers to vary the attack rather than forcing every dangerous move through wide areas or direct service into the strikers.

The club’s ambition also reflects the broader growth of the league itself. The Sports Encounter has followed how Saudi football’s influence now stretches into European transfer decisions, including the Saudi interest that formed part of the long-running Vinícius Júnior contract saga.

Reijnders choosing Saudi Arabia while still in a strong stage of his career fits that larger shift.

The Saudi Pro League Is Becoming More Tactically Interesting

The defining image of the league’s international rise was initially obvious.

Global stars arrived.

Cristiano Ronaldo went to Al-Nassr.

Karim Benzema joined Al-Ittihad.

Neymar moved to Al-Hilal.

Riyad Mahrez joined Al-Ahli.

The conversation centered on money, profile and whether the league could attract recognizable names.

That phase has changed.

The more interesting question now is what clubs do with those players.

The Sports Encounter’s review of Neymar’s final World Cup chapter also examined how his difficult Al-Hilal spell showed that signing a superstar does not automatically guarantee sporting value.

Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah illustrate the next phase from opposite directions.

Bergwijn is becoming more influential after spending time inside the league.

Reijnders has arrived with tactical responsibility immediately.

The Dutch Influence Is More Than a One-Night Curiosity

Monday produced an easy headline because both major performers were Dutch.

The connection is deeper than that coincidence.

Dutch football has traditionally developed players comfortable in structured possession systems and capable of operating in multiple positions.

Bergwijn and Reijnders express that background differently.

Bergwijn is explosive, direct and increasingly decisive closer to goal.

Reijnders is a carrier and connector who influences the spaces before the final action.

One rescued a match through scoring.

The other controlled a difficult away game by changing its first major moment.

What Monday Means for the Early Saudi Title Race

Three rounds are nowhere near enough to define a championship race.

They are enough to reveal pressure.

Al-Ittihad have seven points.

Al-Qadsiah have six.

Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal remain part of a powerful chasing group, and the standings will continue shifting as Round 3 is completed.

Saudi football’s competitive environment has become significantly stronger than when the first major international signings arrived.

Al-Ittihad cannot assume seven points from three means the problems are solved.

Al-Qadsiah cannot treat six points as proof that their investment has already produced a title challenge.

The opening weeks are simply giving us a clearer idea of where the strengths lie.

Al-Ittihad Have Character, but Still Need Control

The strongest argument in their favor is resilience.

They recovered from the opening draw.

They survived the red card against Al-Qadsiah.

They came from behind against Al-Hazem.

Those are not insignificant traits.

Championship teams win matches when they are not at their best.

The concern is frequency.

If every match requires survival, individual brilliance or late resistance, eventually the margins turn against you.

Al-Ittihad need to begin winning matches through control as well as character.

Al-Qadsiah May Have Found the Midfielder Who Helps Them Do Exactly That

That is where Reijnders becomes particularly important.

Al-Qadsiah already had quality.

What they needed was another player capable of connecting possession to attack without forcing the game.

His first start suggests that role could suit him immediately.

If Reijnders becomes the midfield reference point Rodgers expects, Al-Qadsiah may prove more sustainable over 34 league matches than teams depending heavily on individual moments.

Bergwijn vs Reijnders: Different Jobs, Similar Importance

Bergwijn’s Hat-Trick Also Fits a Remarkable League Trend

The Saudi Pro League noted that Bergwijn’s treble continued an unusual beginning to the season.

For the first time, the opening three rounds have each contained a hat-trick.

The league had previously produced three hat-tricks across the first three rounds in 2016-17 and 2023-24, but never one in each individual round.

Bergwijn therefore contributed to more than Al-Ittihad’s result.

His performance became part of a record-setting opening sequence for the league.

Saudi Football’s European Pull Remains Strong

Reijnders’ arrival is another example of how the league continues recruiting players who still possess significant European value.

The Sports Encounter recently examined the opposite outcome when Mohamed Salah chose Trabzonspor despite long-running Saudi interest.

Not every major player will choose Saudi Arabia.

Enough continue doing so that the league’s tactical and competitive level keeps changing.

That matters more than transfer headlines alone.

The Bigger Middle East Soccer Picture Is Becoming More Competitive

Saudi club football is developing alongside a wider regional rise.

The Sports Encounter has increasingly focused on Middle Eastern soccer because the region now combines elite club investment, continental ambition and national-team progress.

Saudi Arabia’s national team demonstrated that broader competitiveness during the World Cup when the Green Falcons held Uruguay to a 1-1 draw.

The domestic league now has to turn financial investment into sustained sporting credibility.

Nights such as Monday help.

The headline names were internationals.

The matches themselves were competitive.

Neither Al-Ittihad nor Al-Qadsiah received easy victories simply because their squads carried more recognizable names.

What Comes Next for Al-Ittihad?

The next challenge is to convert resilience into rhythm.

Bergwijn cannot be expected to score three goals whenever the structure breaks down.

The Tigers need more consistent chance creation, cleaner defensive transitions and greater control after taking the lead.

If those areas improve while Bergwijn maintains this level of confidence, Al-Ittihad become significantly more dangerous.

What Comes Next for Al-Qadsiah?

Reijnders now has the first goal out of the way.

The next stage is integration.

Rodgers needs to determine where he is most influential, which midfielder best complements him and how frequently Reijnders should be allowed to move into advanced areas.

The 2-0 victory provides time for that process.

Results are particularly valuable when a new midfielder is still learning the movement around him.

TSE Analysis: Two Dutch Players, Two Different Measures of Saudi Progress

Bergwijn and Reijnders offered two snapshots of where Saudi club football currently stands.

Bergwijn represents continuity.

He arrived two years ago, adapted to the league and has gradually become one of Al-Ittihad’s most important attackers.

Reijnders represents the next recruitment phase.

He arrives with recent top-level European experience and is immediately being asked to control important matches rather than simply add star power.

Both stories matter.

The league cannot build credibility only through arrivals.

It needs players to become better and more influential after they arrive.

Bergwijn is doing that.

It also needs newer signings to demonstrate quickly that their football still carries elite-level purpose.

Reijnders has started well.

The Sports Encounter Verdict

Steven Bergwijn owned Monday night statistically.

Three Al-Ittihad goals.

Three points.

One first Saudi Pro League hat-trick.

His performance rescued a team that still looks less settled than the league table suggests.

Al-Ittihad’s seven points are valuable because they have arrived through adversity.

The next step is making victories less difficult.

Tijjani Reijnders produced the quieter but potentially more important long-term development.

His first goal helped Al-Qadsiah respond immediately after losing to Al-Ittihad and offered an early glimpse of the control he could bring to Rodgers’ midfield.

The Saudi Pro League’s opening weeks are already showing that the title conversation may extend beyond famous names and transfer fees.

The teams capable of combining individual quality with tactical stability will eventually separate themselves.

On Monday, two Dutch players pushed their clubs in that direction.

Bergwijn did it through a hat-trick.

Reijnders did it with the first significant strike of his new Saudi chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who scored the goals in Al-Ittihad’s 3-2 win over Al-Hazem?

Steven Bergwijn scored all three Al-Ittihad goals. He scored from open play in the 34th minute and converted penalties in the 41st and 81st minutes.

Who scored for Al-Hazem?

Abdulaziz Al-Dwehe opened the scoring in the 18th minute, while Sofiane Bendebka equalized at 2-2 in the 59th minute.

Was this Steven Bergwijn’s first Saudi Pro League hat-trick?

Yes. The Saudi Pro League confirmed it was Bergwijn’s first league hat-trick, achieved in his 49th appearance in the competition.

How many points do Al-Ittihad have after three matches?

Al-Ittihad have seven points from two victories and one draw.

Who did Tijjani Reijnders score against?

Reijnders scored his first Al-Qadsiah goal against NEOM in a 2-0 away victory.

When did Reijnders score?

He opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a shot from outside the penalty area.

Who scored Al-Qadsiah’s second goal?

Mateo Retegui converted a penalty in the 56th minute.

How many points do Al-Qadsiah have?

Al-Qadsiah have six points from three matches.

How did Al-Ittihad start the season?

They drew 1-1 with Al-Kholood, beat Al-Qadsiah 1-0 despite playing much of the second half with 10 men, and then defeated Al-Hazem 3-2.

Why is Reijnders important to Al-Qadsiah?

He gives the team a midfielder capable of carrying the ball through pressure, progressing possession and contributing goals from deeper positions.