In a crucial match at Al Majma'ah Sports City Stadium, Al Fayha secured a valuable 3-1 victory over Al Khaleej in the 19th round of the Saudi Professional League. This win earned Al Fayha three crucial points, strengthening their position in the standings, while halting Al Khaleej's winning streak.
The context of the match and its importance in the Roshan League
The Saudi Professional League (SPL) has entered an unprecedented competitive phase this season, attracting a host of international football stars, which has raised the level and value of every match. This encounter comes at a time when both teams are striving to improve their positions in the mid-table. Al-Fayha, under their coach, aimed to capitalize on home advantage and a supportive crowd to distance themselves from the relegation zone, while Al-Khaleej hoped to continue their good form and achieve a positive result that would bring them closer to the top of the standings. Therefore, the three points at stake were of strategic importance to both sides in the long and arduous league race.
A fiery first half with a perfect Al-Fayhawi performance
Al-Fayha dominated the first half, converting their superiority into three consecutive goals. The scoring began early when a free kick was sent to Al-Fayha, and Al-Khaleej player Hussein Al-Sultan attempted to clear it but inadvertently put it into his own net in the 18th minute, giving the home side an early lead. Al-Fayha didn't stop there, continuing their attacking pressure, and veteran English defender Chris Smalling added the second goal in the 38th minute with a well-placed header from a cross. Three minutes before the end of the half, Zambian star Fashion Sakala added the third goal after a brilliant individual effort. He dribbled down the left flank, skillfully beating several defenders before unleashing a powerful shot that nestled into the left side of goalkeeper Anthony Morris's net in the 42nd minute, ending the first half with a comfortable lead for Al-Fayha.
Al-Khaleej's attempts and the brilliance of Al-Fayha's goalkeeper
In the second half, Al-Khaleej came out determined to reduce the deficit and get back into the game. They intensified their attacking efforts, and a dangerous opportunity arose in the 65th minute when Spaniard Paulo Fernandez fired a shot, but Panamanian goalkeeper Luis Mosquera was alert and made a brilliant save. Al-Khaleej's pressure paid off in the 80th minute when Greek player Giorgos Masouras received the ball inside the penalty area and cleverly slotted it past the goalkeeper. Al-Khaleej almost added a second goal just a minute later, but Mosquera was again outstanding, catching Fernandez's dangerous shot and preserving his team's lead until the final whistle.
The impact of the result on the teams' standings
With this crucial victory, Al-Fayha raised their points tally to 20, giving them a significant morale boost and helping them climb several places in the standings, temporarily moving away from the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Al-Khaleej's points remained at 25, missing the opportunity to strengthen their position in the top half of the table and remaining in the safe mid-table. This result reflects the unpredictability of the Roshan League, where a single match can drastically alter the standings.
