Al-Ahli's first football team continued its strong performances and series of consecutive victories, achieving a wide and well-deserved victory over its host, Neom, with a score of 3-0, in the exciting match that brought them together on Saturday evening at the King Khalid Sports City Stadium in Tabuk, as part of the competitions of the eighteenth round of the Saudi Professional League.
A balanced first half with a lack of attacking effectiveness
The first half was a closely contested affair, with play largely confined to the midfield and few clear-cut scoring opportunities. The visitors had the better chance of the half when Brazilian Wenderson Galeano unleashed a powerful shot in the 21st minute that flashed just wide of the post. The first half ended goalless, leaving fans eager to see what the second half would bring.
Al-Ahly uprising and a red card that turns the tables
With the start of the second half, the game completely changed. Despite a strong start from Neom, with Frenchman Simon Bouabre's dangerous run and shot in the 48th minute, Al-Ahli's response was swift and decisive. The turning point came in the 55th minute when English star Ivan Toni successfully converted a penalty kick past Portuguese goalkeeper Luis Maximiano.
The home side's task became even more difficult after defender Khalifa Al-Dossari was shown a red card in the 61st minute, leaving Neom to finish the match with ten men. Al-Ahli capitalized brilliantly on their numerical advantage, with Algerian star Riyad Mahrez extending their lead with a superb second goal in the 64th minute, following a decisive pass from his Ivorian teammate Franck Kessié. Just three minutes later, Frenchman Enzo Millot delivered the final blow, scoring the third goal in the 67th minute.
Mendy shines and secures the three points
Al-Ahli didn't just attack; they also put up a strong defense thanks to the brilliance of their Senegalese goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, who made a crucial save in the 70th minute, denying Alexandre Lacazette's shot and preserving his clean sheet. With this valuable victory, Al-Ahli increased their points tally to 40, strengthening their position at the top of the table, while Neom remained on 21 points.
The importance of winning and the context of the competition
This victory is of paramount importance to Al-Ahli in the context of the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League, which has witnessed intense rivalry this season thanks to the influx of world-class players. Reaching 40 points provides the team with a tremendous morale boost as they continue their pursuit of the league leaders and aim to secure an Asian Champions League spot. It also reflects the tactical development and strong cohesion between the team's professional and local players.
On the other hand, the match held in Tabuk reflects the great development of the sports infrastructure in the Kingdom and the wide geographical spread of high-level football competitions, which allows fans in different regions to see international stars such as Mahrez, Toni and Lacazette up close, which is in the interest of the sports marketing of the Saudi League as one of the strongest leagues in the region.
