In one of the biggest upsets of the Saudi football season, Al-Kholoud FC made history with an unprecedented achievement. The headline "Al -Kholoud Eliminates Al-Ittihad " dominated the sports scene after their thrilling victory in the King's Cup semi-final. The marathon match, held at Al-Kholoud Stadium, ended with the home side winning 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in both regulation and extra time, securing Al-Kholoud's place in the final of the prestigious cup competition.
Details of a historic night... Al-Kholoud defeats Al-Ittihad in a marathon encounter
The match began with intense and early attacking pressure from Al-Ittihad players, seeking an early goal to unsettle the home team and facilitate their passage to the final. Professional player Danilo Pereira almost opened the scoring for Al-Ittihad in the 33rd minute after receiving a perfect cross from Algerian star Houssem Aouar, but his header went harmlessly over the crossbar.
The first half witnessed a significant turning point when Malian player Mohamedou Doumbia suffered a serious injury following an awkward fall, forcing the coaching staff to substitute him with Frenchman Moussa Diaby in the 37th minute. This substitution paid off quickly, as Diaby succeeded in scoring Al-Ittihad's first goal in the 40th minute with a powerful shot that found the net after a decisive pass from Dutchman Steven Bergwijn, ending the first half with the visitors in the lead.
A comeback and excitement that extends into extra time
In the second half, Al-Kholoud players refused to give up and managed to equalize through Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa in the 73rd minute with a powerful shot that found the back of Al-Ittihad's net after a brilliant pass from Koka Ndoram. Despite Al-Ittihad's attempts to regain the lead, most notably Houssem Aouar's header that went over the bar after a cross from Roger Fernandez, the match went to extra time.
The excitement returned when Steven Bergwijn scored Al-Ittihad's second goal in the 96th minute, assisted by Moussa Diaby. However, Al-Khulood's determination shone through once again with a rocket shot from Adam Perry in the 111th minute, which Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic couldn't stop, sending the match to penalties, where Al-Khulood ultimately prevailed.
The Saudi King's Cup: A constant stage for football surprises
The King's Cup is the most prestigious and coveted tournament in Saudi football history. Historically, major clubs like Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Nassr have dominated the competition. However, the tournament's knockout format makes it a stage for dramatic upsets. Al-Kholoud's reaching the final is an unprecedented achievement for clubs in Al-Rass province, highlighting the development of these ambitious clubs and their ability to compete with the top teams in major tournaments.
Dimensions and effects of the result on the sports scene
This victory carries significant implications both locally and regionally. For Al-Ittihad, exiting at this advanced stage represents a major blow to the team's ambitions of winning domestic titles this season, placing added pressure on the management and coaching staff to get back on track. On the other hand, this qualification gives Al-Kholoud a tremendous morale boost and brings its sporting project into the media and public spotlight. This fierce competition also reflects the success of the Saudi football development strategy, which aims to raise the level of competitiveness among all clubs, making domestic competitions a focus of attention for followers in the region and the world.
