Al-Akhdoud's first football team achieved a very valuable victory over their guest Al-Kholoud with a score of 1-0, in the match that brought them together this evening on the grounds of Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Najran, as part of the competitions of the fifteenth round of the Saudi Professional League for the 2023-2024 season.
First half details and Al-Kholoud's dominance
The first half saw the visitors clearly dominate possession, with Al-Kholoud controlling the midfield and threatening Al-Akhdoud's goal on several occasions. The most dangerous chance came in the 12th minute when a perfect opportunity fell to Comorian striker Meziani Maoulida, who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his powerful shot sailed over the crossbar, squandering the chance for an early lead.
Al-Kholoud continued their attacking pressure, creating another chance in the 18th minute when Mohammed Souan unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty area that narrowly missed the post. Minutes before the end of the first half, specifically in the 43rd minute, Hattan Bahebri almost opened the scoring, but Al-Akhdoud's alert defense intervened, intercepting the ball and deflecting it for a corner kick. The first half ended in a goalless draw.
Basogog's bite secures the three points
As the second half began, Al-Kholoud continued their attacking efforts, with Brazilian goalkeeper Paulo Vitor making a save from a powerful shot by Englishman John Buckley. The ball rebounded to Hattan Bahebri, who blasted it over the crossbar in the 50th minute. Against the run of play, and from a well-coordinated counter-attack, Al-Akhdoud managed to snatch the winning goal in the 54th minute through Cameroonian star Christian Bassogog, who received the ball outside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot that found the back of the net past Argentinian goalkeeper Juan Cusani.
Al-Khulood tried to come back in the match, but luck was against them, especially in the (90) minute when the post stopped Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa’s shot, so the referee blew the final whistle, announcing the home team’s victory.
The teams' positions in the standings and the importance of winning
With this crucial victory, Al-Akhdoud raised their points tally to 8, a win of paramount importance in the team's struggle to escape the relegation zone. These points represent a lifeline that could significantly alter their fortunes in the upcoming rounds. Meanwhile, Al-Kholoud's points remain at 12, placing them in a precarious position and forcing them to reassess their strategy to avoid slipping further down the standings.
Competition context of the Roshan League
These matches take on added importance given the significant development of the Saudi Professional League, where competition is no longer limited to the top clubs. The struggle in the middle and lower reaches has become fiercer due to the increasingly close levels of performance and the substantial support all clubs receive, making every point crucial in the fight to remain among the elite.
