Fateh and Damac played to a 1-1 draw at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium in Al-Ahsa, in the 24th round of the Saudi Professional League. The match was full of twists and turns and dramatic moments, ultimately resulting in the two teams sharing the points.
The general context of the match and its importance:
The two teams enter this match with contrasting objectives, reflecting their positions in the league table. Al-Fateh, nicknamed "The Model," aims to improve its position in the mid-table and close the gap with the leading teams, taking advantage of playing at home. Meanwhile, Damac, "The Knights of the South," is engaged in a fierce battle to avoid relegation, making every point earned, especially away from home, a significant morale boost for their season. The Roshan League matches are gaining increasing importance due to the high level of competition this season and the attraction of international stars who have elevated the league's standards and made it a focus of attention for fans worldwide.
Details and events of the meeting:
The match began cautiously from both sides, but Damac quickly imposed their rhythm and surprised the home team with an early goal. In the 16th minute, Ivorian striker Yacoub Meite to meet a corner kick and expertly headed it past Spanish goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco, giving the visitors the lead. Al-Fateh tried to respond quickly and almost equalized through Hussein Qassem's header, which went just wide of the post in the 22nd minute. In first-half stoppage time, Al-Fateh had a golden opportunity to level the score after being awarded a penalty, but Moroccan specialist Mourad Batna blasted the ball over the crossbar, leaving the first half to end with Damac in the lead.
In the second half, Al-Fateh intensified their attacking pressure in search of an equalizer. In the 75th minute, their efforts paid off when they were awarded a second penalty after a foul inside the box, a foul that resulted in Damac defender Dhari Al-Anzi receiving his second yellow card and being sent off. Murad Batna to take the penalty again, and this time he successfully placed it powerfully to the goalkeeper's right, leveling the score for his team in the 77th minute. The remaining minutes saw both teams attempt to snatch a winning goal, but the final whistle blew, signaling a draw.
Impact on the ranking table:
With this result, Al-Fateh raised their points tally to 28, strengthening their position in the middle of the standings. Meanwhile, Damac added a valuable point to their total, bringing it to 16, a point that could prove crucial in their fierce battle to avoid relegation from the Saudi Professional League. This draw reflects the close competition and the difficulty in predicting match results in one of the most competitive seasons of the Saudi league.
