In a thrilling and closely contested match, Al-Ahli secured a hard-fought and valuable 1-0 victory over hosts Damac at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Abha, in a rescheduled match from the tenth round of the Saudi Professional League. This win temporarily propelled Al-Ahli to the top of the standings, keeping the pressure on the leading teams in the title race.
The general context of the competition in the Roshan League
This match comes amidst an exceptional season for the Saudi Professional League, which has captured global attention after attracting a constellation of the world's most prominent football stars. Al-Ahli, recently promoted back to the top flight and a historical powerhouse of Saudi football, aims to reclaim its former glory and seriously contend for the title, bolstered by world-class players such as Algerian Riyad Mahrez, Brazilian Roberto Firmino, Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and Ivorian Franck Kessié, who scored the winning goal. This influx of talent has heightened the competitiveness of the league, making every match a true test for the teams vying for the top spot.
Match details and events
The match began cautiously from both sides, but Damac quickly showed their teeth, threatening Al-Ahli's goal in the second minute with a powerful shot from Ivorian Yacoub Meite that struck the crossbar. Al-Ahli's response came somewhat late, as they waited until the 34th minute to threaten Damac's goal with a shot from Riyad Mahrez that was saved by Brazilian goalkeeper Kiwin Silva. From a direct free kick, Al-Ahli managed to open the scoring in the 37th minute when Franck Kessié followed up a perfectly placed cross and converted it with a single touch into the net, giving his team the lead. Mahrez almost added a second goal in the 41st minute, but his shot hit the right post.
In the second half, Damac tried to get back into the game, while Al-Ahli sought to extend their lead. The two teams exchanged attacks, none of which posed a serious threat to either goal until the 71st minute, when goalkeeper Edouard Mendy made a brilliant save from a powerful shot by Abdulrahman Al-Obaid. In the 87th minute, Mendy was called into action again, denying Syrian player Mohammed Al-Salakhdi a certain goal and preserving his team's lead until the final whistle.
The importance of winning and its impact on the league standings
With this victory, Al-Ahli raised their points tally to 56, temporarily climbing to the top of the table pending the results of the other competitors. This represents a huge morale boost for the team in their pursuit of the league title. Domestically, this win intensifies the competition at the top of the standings and puts significant pressure on Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ittihad. As for Damac, their points total remains at 15, leaving them in a precarious position and desperately needing to accumulate points in the upcoming rounds to escape the relegation zone.
