Al-Ahli's first football team secured a hard-fought and valuable 1-0 victory over Al-Akhdoud in their match on Saturday evening, as part of the 14th round of the Saudi Professional League. The "Royal" team owes this win to their English striker, Ivan Tony, who scored the only goal of the match, earning his team three crucial points in their pursuit of a top finish.
Match details and Al-Ahly's dominance
The match began with intense attacking pressure from Al-Ahli from the opening minutes, as German coach Matthias Jäissle sought to impose his style early on. The third minute saw the first threat from Turkish defender Merih Demiral, who met a corner kick taken by Brazilian Wenderson Galeño, but his shot went over the crossbar. A series of missed opportunities followed, with Al-Akhdoud goalkeeper Samuel nearly conceding an early goal after a dribbling error against Ivan Toni, forcing his teammate Pedroza into a tactical foul.
Al-Ahli's attacking onslaught continued throughout the first half, with attempts ranging from dangerous crosses from Galinho to shots from Firas Al-Buraikan, all of which were brilliantly saved by Al-Akhdoud's goalkeeper. The half also saw a goal by Brazilian Matheus Gonçalves disallowed in stoppage time due to a foul, leaving the score 0-0 at halftime despite the home side's complete dominance.
The goal was decisive, and tactical changes were made
As the second half began, Al-Ahli continued their high-pressing game, and the referee disallowed another goal scored by Enzo Melo in the 46th minute. The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when English striker Ivan Tony finally broke through Al-Akhdoud's defense, converting a decisive pass into the net for the opening goal. Al-Akhdoud attempted to get back into the game through counter-attacks, but Al-Ahli's defense, led by Ibanez and Demiral, held firm.
In the final minutes, Yassla brought on new signing Ricardo Matias to revitalize the attacking front, and the team maintained their lead until the final whistle, leaving with a clean sheet and all three points.
The importance of winning and its impact on the standings
This victory is of paramount importance to Al-Ahli in the context of the fierce competition in the Roshan League this season. With this result, Al-Ahli raised its points tally to 28, jumping to fourth place in the standings, a position that qualifies for continental competitions and returns the team to the top four, which is the primary objective for Al-Ahli fans in order to secure a place in the AFC Champions League.
On the other hand, Al-Akhdoud's woes deepened as their points tally remained at a mere 5, leaving them languishing in 17th place (second to last). This setback puts the southern team in a very precarious position, necessitating a comprehensive technical review to rectify the situation before it's too late and they risk relegation to the Yellow Division, especially with the competition intensifying at the bottom of the table.
Historical context and competition in the Roshan League
This match comes amidst the significant transformations taking place in the Saudi League, where games between the lower-ranked teams and the other clubs have become highly competitive and characterized by organized defensive formations. Al-Ahli's narrow 1-0 victory reflects the improved technical level of the mid-table and lower-ranked teams, and their ability to trouble the top sides, thus increasing the excitement of the league and making every point crucial in the long championship journey.
