Steven Bergwijn ran the show against Al-Hazem. The Dutchman fired "the Dean" to a thrilling 3-2 win with a hat-trick that meant plenty for the start of his goalscoring season.
Bergwijn opened his Pro League account this season with three goals, according to Opta, notching the first hat-trick of his career in the competition. He now sits just two goals short of matching last season's tally of five.
Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah noted that the Dutch winger scored his first hat-trick in an Al-Ittihad shirt during Monday evening's clash with Al-Hazem in the third round of the Saudi Roshn League.
He grabbed his first from open play before completing the treble with two penalties to hand Al-Ittihad a precious win.
The 28-year-old has now taken his Al-Ittihad tally to 29 goals in 67 matches since arriving from Dutch club Ajax in the summer of 2024.
Two of Bergwijn's goals this season had already come in the 4-1 win over the UAE's Al-Jazira in the AFC Champions League Elite play-off. His contract with Al-Ittihad runs until the summer of next year.
Last season told a leaner story. Across 21 appearances in the Saudi Roshn Pro League, Bergwijn managed just five goals and four assists.