Al-Qadisiyah Football Club continued its strong performances and positive results in the Saudi Professional League, achieving its fifth consecutive victory, after overwhelming its host Al-Hazm with five goals to one, in the exciting match that brought the two teams together on Sunday evening at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah, as part of the sixteenth round of the competition.
A tactical first half with missed opportunities
The match began with both teams displaying attacking intent, as the home side attempted to surprise the visitors early on. In the second minute, South African Elias Mokwana made a powerful run and unleashed a shot that Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels brilliantly saved. Following this fast start, Al-Qadsia imposed their control of the game and their own rhythm, creating several chances. The most notable was a shot by Mohammed Abu Shamat in the 20th minute, which was caught by goalkeeper Bruno Varela. Mexican Julian Quiñones also had a clear one-on-one opportunity in the 41st minute, rounding the goalkeeper but inexplicably blasting the ball over the crossbar. Despite Al-Qadsia's dominance, the first half ended goalless.
An attacking onslaught in the second half
The second half saw a dramatic shift in the attacking prowess of Rodgers' men, with Italian Matteo Rettigny opening the scoring in the 56th minute, capitalizing on a perfectly delivered cross. Just five minutes later, young star Musab Al-Juwair doubled the lead with a brilliant individual effort as the goalkeeper came off his line. Despite Al-Hazm's attempt to get back into the game through a chance for Algerian Amir Sayoud, Al-Qadisiyah continued their relentless pressure, with Julian Quiniones scoring the third goal with a well-placed header in the 73rd minute.
Al-Hazm's defensive collapse continued, with defender Ahmed Al-Nakhli scoring an own goal in the 81st minute while attempting to clear the ball. Al-Hazm scored their only consolation goal through Guinean Aboubacar Bah in the 86th minute, before Mohammed Abu Shamat completed the rout with a powerful shot in stoppage time, highlighting the formidable attacking prowess of the Eastern Province team.
The two teams' positions in the standings
With this resounding victory, Al-Qadisiyah raised their points tally to 33, strengthening their position in the mid-table and their pursuit of a top spot. This reflects the team's excellent tactical work, improved performance, and cohesion in recent rounds. Conversely, Al-Hazm's situation worsened as they remain stuck on 16 points, placing them under immense pressure to escape the relegation zone in the upcoming league matches.
