In a thrilling encounter in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League, Al-Fayha secured a valuable away victory against Al-Hazm, overturning a one-goal deficit to win 3-1. The match, held at Al-Hazm's stadium in Ar-Rass, witnessed a strong performance from the "Sudair Mills," who demonstrated their ability to come back and secure three crucial points in their league campaign.
Background and context of the confrontation in the league
The two teams entered the match with contrasting objectives. Al-Hazm, struggling at the bottom of the table, hoped to capitalize on home advantage and a supportive crowd to secure a positive result that would boost morale and revive their slim hopes of avoiding relegation. On the other hand, Al-Fayha, led by their Serbian coach Vuk Razovic, aimed to confirm their recent resurgence, distance themselves further from the relegation zone, and solidify their position in the comfortable mid-table. This match comes amidst an exceptional season for the Roshan League, which has garnered global attention thanks to attracting international stars, thus raising the level of competition and making every match a significant challenge for all teams.
Match details and events
The home side, Al-Hazm, surprised Al-Fayha with an early goal from Portuguese star Tozé in the fourth minute, igniting the match from the outset. However, Al-Fayha's response was swift, with Zambian striker Fashion Sakala leveling the score in the 17th minute, capitalizing on his speed and clinical finishing. Just before halftime, in the 39th minute, Nigerian Henry Onyekuru added a second goal for Al-Fayha, giving his team the lead at the break. In the second half, Al-Fayha continued their dominance and secured the victory with a superb third goal from Moroccan international Abdelhamid Sabiri in the 57th minute, effectively ending Al-Hazm's hopes of a comeback.
The importance of winning and its impact on the teams' standings
With this victory, Al-Fayha raised their points tally to 25, temporarily moving up to ninth place and distancing themselves comfortably from the relegation zone. This gives them greater stability and confidence for the remainder of the season. As for Al-Hazm, this loss compounded their woes, leaving them stuck on 14 points at the bottom of the table. Their chances of avoiding relegation to the First Division are now virtually impossible with almost a third of the season remaining. This match highlighted the technical and experience gap between the two teams, with Al-Fayha, thanks to the experience of their professional players, securing the win despite a shaky start.
