The first football team of Al-Ettifaq Club, under the technical leadership of national coach Saad Al-Shehri, continued to present remarkable and distinguished levels in the Roshan Professional League competitions for the 2025/2026 season, as the team succeeded in maintaining its record without defeats for the fifth round in a row, after its exciting draw of two goals to one against its counterpart Al-Nasr in the top matches of the twelfth round, which was held on Tuesday evening.
The Commandos' series of positive results
The Al-Nassr match was more than just a passing phase; it was a true test of Al-Ettifaq's resilience, proving their ability to compete with the top teams. This marked the fifth consecutive match in which "Faris Al-Dahna" (Knights of Ad-Dahna) avoided defeat, a streak that began after their recent stumble against Al-Fateh in the sixth round with a score of (1-2). Since that match, the team has rebounded, achieving balanced results that combined defensive solidity with offensive effectiveness. They drew with Al-Hazm (2-2) and Al-Shabab (1-1), before securing two consecutive and important victories against Al-Fayha (3-2) and Al-Riyadh (2-0), culminating this run so far with a hard-fought draw against Al-Nassr (2-2).
Saad Al-Shehri's imprint and artistic stability
This remarkable improvement in performance and results is attributed to the outstanding work of coach Saad Al-Shehri, who has successfully utilized the players' abilities and created a cohesive unit capable of staging comebacks in crucial matches. Coaching stability is a vital factor for clubs in a strong and competitive league like the Roshan League, where the levels of competition are closely matched and the difficulty increases with each round. The team's achievement of 16 points and its current eighth-place position in the standings reflects a gradual improvement as the club strives to move closer to competing for spots that qualify for international competitions.
The importance of the point in the victory and its impact
The draw against Al-Nassr was particularly significant given the strength of the opponent, which boasts a roster of top international and local stars. Securing a point serves as a major morale booster for Al-Ettifaq players, encouraging them to maintain the same spirit in the upcoming rounds. Statistics from the last five matches (two wins and three draws) confirm that the team is on the right track to regaining its status as a historically significant and established force in Saudi football. Fans are eagerly anticipating that this season will mark the team's return to the podium or at least to a top position in the standings.
Summary of Al-Ettifaq's last 5 matches:
- Draw: Al-Ettifaq 2-2 Al-Hazm
- Draw: Al-Shabab 1-1 Al-Ettifaq
- Victory: Al-Ettifaq 3 - 2 Al-Fayha
- Victory: Riyadh 0 - 2 Al-Ettifaq
- Draw: Al-Ettifaq 2-2 Al-Nasr
