Al-Ettifaq, led by their English coach Steven Gerrard, secured a valuable 1-0 victory over Al-Taawoun at their home ground in Dammam, in a match that was part of the 20th round of the Saudi Professional League. The only goal of the game came in the second half courtesy of Dutch star Georginio Wijnaldum, earning his team three crucial points and putting them back on track for winning ways.
General context and importance of the match
This encounter comes amidst an exceptional season in the Saudi League, which has attracted major international stars, raising the level of competition and global media attention. Al-Ettifaq enters the match seeking to appease its fans after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Al-Ahli in the previous round, while Al-Taawoun aims to solidify its position in the top four and compete for a spot in the AFC Champions League. Therefore, the match holds great importance for both teams; for Al-Ettifaq to regain balance and confidence, and for Al-Taawoun to continue its successful run in the tournament.
Match details and events
The match began cautiously from both sides, with Al-Ettifaq holding a slight advantage as they attempted to impose their control early on. French striker Moussa Dembélé nearly opened the scoring in the 10th minute after a long ball, but Al-Taawoun's Brazilian goalkeeper, Maëlson, was equal to the task. Al-Taawoun responded with a dangerous opportunity in the 16th minute, which was thwarted by Al-Ettifaq's defense. The first half saw a flurry of attacks and outstanding performances from both goalkeepers. Al-Ettifaq's Slovakian goalkeeper, Pavol Rodák, made a crucial save from a powerful shot by Frenchman Angelo Fulgini in the 27th minute, while Maëlson continued his impressive form by denying Wijnaldum a clear goal-scoring opportunity in the 40th minute and then saving another shot from Khalid Al-Ghannam in the third minute of first-half stoppage time (45+3). The first half ended in a goalless draw.
Wijnaldum's goal seals the result
In the second half, the pace of the match increased, with both teams exchanging attacking opportunities. With the score still level, Al-Ettifaq broke the deadlock in the 71st minute when Dutch star Georginio Wijnaldum on a loose ball inside the penalty area, skillfully placing it into the net to score the winning goal for his team. Al-Taawoun tried to get back into the game and intensified their pressure in the remaining minutes, but Al-Ettifaq's defense and goalkeeper Rodak prevented them from equalizing, and the match ended with a hard-fought and important victory for the home side.
Impact on the ranking table
With this victory, Al-Ettifaq raised their points tally to 32, advancing to seventh place in the Roshan League standings, moving further away from the mid-table and closer to the leading teams. Meanwhile, Al-Taawoun's points remained at 38, keeping them in fifth place, dealing a blow to their efforts to maintain their position among the top four and intensifying the competition for the top spots in the upcoming rounds.
