In one of the most exciting and thrilling matches of the 19th round of the Saudi Professional League, Al-Fateh refused to surrender on their home ground and in front of their fans, snatching a dramatic 2-2 draw against Al-Ittihad at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium in Al-Ahsa. The match, which saw the lead change hands until the final seconds, reflected the high fighting spirit of the "Model" team and halted Al-Ittihad's progress towards closing the gap on the league leaders.
Background of the match and its importance in the league race
The two teams enter this match with different motivations. Al-Ittihad, one of the giants of Saudi football and the defending champions, are striving to make up for their shaky start to the season and chase down Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr at the top of the table, making every point crucial. Al-Fateh, on the other hand, whose performances have been inconsistent, are aiming to solidify their position in the middle of the standings and avoid any complicated scenarios at the end of the season. A positive result against a team of Al-Ittihad's stature would be a huge morale boost for their players and fans.
Details and events of the exciting match
Al-Fateh started the first half with an attacking surge, aiming to surprise the visitors, but Al-Ittihad's experience allowed them to absorb the initial enthusiasm and gradually settle into the match. After several attempts, Al-Ittihad capitalized on their dominance, scoring the opening goal in the 25th minute through striker Saleh Al-Shehri, who pounced on a rebound from Spanish goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco to slot the ball into the net. Al-Ittihad nearly doubled their lead, but Pacheco made a brilliant save to deny them a certain goal.
In the second half, the scenario changed, as Al-Fateh intensified their attacking pressure in search of an equalizer. After both sides squandered chances, the home team was awarded a penalty in the 74th minute, which Moroccan specialist Mourad Batna converted successfully, leveling the score. Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, the referee awarded another penalty, this time to Al-Ittihad in the 84th minute. Saleh Al-Shehri confidently converted, scoring his second goal of the match and putting his team ahead. When everyone thought the game was over for Al-Ittihad, Argentinian Matias Vargas had other ideas. In the ninth minute of stoppage time (90+9), he unleashed a rocket of a shot from outside the penalty area, finding the back of the net past Serbian goalkeeper Rajkovic and securing a dramatic equalizer that ignited the stadium.
The impact of the result on the teams' standings
With this result, each team added a point to their tally. Al-Fateh raised their total to 22 points, strengthening their position in the safe mid-table. Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad increased their points to 31, but lost two valuable points in their title challenge, potentially widening the gap with the leading teams. This draw serves as a wake-up call for Al-Ittihad, highlighting the need to maintain focus until the final whistle, while it represents a significant morale boost for Al-Fateh, confirming their ability to compete with the top teams.
