The fourteenth round of the Roshan Professional a fiery and exciting encounter between Al-Ettifaq and Al-Najma, held at Al-Najma Stadium in Unaizah. This thrilling match ended with a hard-fought victory for Al-Ettifaq, nicknamed "The Knights of Ad-Dahna," by a score of four goals to three, confirming their determination to compete strongly this season.
First half details and Al-Ettifaq's dominance
The match began with intense attacking pressure from the visitors, as Al-Ettifaq players sought from the opening minutes to impose their rhythm and score an early goal to unsettle the home side. This pressure paid off in the 27th minute with an own goal by Nasser Al-Haleel, who inadvertently deflected a cross from Dutch star Georginio Wijnaldum into his own net.
Al-Ettifaq didn't stop there, continuing their relentless attack and exploiting Al-Najma's retreat. Belgian striker Moussa Dembélé added a second goal in the 39th minute, capitalizing on another decisive pass from Wijnaldum. Just before halftime, Costa Rican defender Francisco Calvo extended the lead to 3-0 in the 42nd minute, following a precise assist from Abdullah Al-Khatib. The first half ended with Al-Ettifaq comfortably ahead 3-0.
The star's late awakening and the excitement of the final minutes
As the second half began, Al-Ittifaq continued their dominance and Francesco Calvo scored his second personal goal and his team's fourth in the 59th minute. However, the match took a dramatic turn in the final third, as Al-Najma club rallied, trying to come back in the score.
Al-Najma's comeback began with a goal from Rakan Al-Tulaihi in the 72nd minute, followed immediately by a goal from the brilliant Iraqi Ali Jassim in the 73rd minute, igniting the crowd. In the 87th minute, Brazilian Lazaro Vinicius narrowed the gap to one goal by converting a penalty kick, leaving the fans on the edge of their seats for a few breathless minutes before the referee blew the final whistle, declaring Al-Ettifaq the winners.
The two teams' positions in the standings
With this important victory, Al-Ettifaq raised its points tally to 22, climbing to seventh place in the Roshan League standings and achieving its seventh consecutive win in a remarkable run of positive results under the effective leadership of coach Saad Al-Shehri. The team also boasts an unbeaten record in the last seven rounds (4 wins and 3 draws).
In contrast, Al-Najma's situation has become much more complicated, as their points tally has frozen at only two, leaving them in last place in the standings, which puts the team under enormous pressure to rectify the situation before it is too late in the upcoming rounds.
The importance of winning and the development of the Roshan League
This match reflects the intense competitiveness of the Saudi Professional League, where games are no longer decided even when one team leads by four goals. Al-Ettifaq's attacking performance, spearheaded by world-class stars like Wijnaldum and Dembélé, demonstrates the tactical and technical development the team has undergone, making them a formidable contender for top positions and qualification for continental competitions.
