Naif Hazazi scored a second-half hat-trick as Saudi League champions Al Ittihad maintained their 100 per cent start to their title defence with a 7-1 thrashing of ten-man Al Qadisiya.

Al Ittihad opened the scoring after only six minutes through Tunisian striker Amine Chermiti before Oman defender Ahmed Hadid doubled the advantage midway through the first half.

Al Qadisiya pulled a goal back in the last minute of the first half through Brazilian striker Nelson Figueredo, but Hazazi restored Al Ittihad's two-goal advantage seven minutes into the second half.

Hazazi added a second just before the hour mark before Al Qadisiya were reduced to tenmen as Zakaria Al Haddaf was sent-off. Al Ittihad completed the rout in the closing stages as Talal Al Meshal, Hazazi and Mohamad Noor found the net.

Elsewhere, Swedish midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson scored twice as Al Hilal also maintained their 100 per cent start with a 5-0 win over ten-man Najran. Wilhelmsson opened the scoring after only four minutes before Eisa Al Mahyani doubled the lead in the last minute of the first half.

Mohamad Al Shalhoub added a third nine minutes after the break and, after Wilhelmsson grabbed a second 12 minutes later, Najran were reduced to ten men as Ali Al Saqour was sent-off

Yasser Al Qahtani sealed the win with eight minutes remaining which leaves second-placed Al Hilal three points behind Al Ittihad although they have a game in hand on the league leaders.

Finally, Al Raed claimed their first win of the season after edging out Al Fateh 2-1.