Al-Shabab continued their resurgence in the Saudi Professional League, securing a valuable 1-0 victory over Al-Fayha at Al-Shabab Stadium in Riyadh on Sunday evening, in the opening match of the 20th round of the competition. The lone goal of the game was scored by new signing, Englishman Josh Brownhill, giving the "White Lions" three crucial points and strengthening their position in the league standings.
Background and importance of the meeting
Al-Shabab entered this match with high morale after their resounding 4-0 victory over Al-Hazm in the previous round. This win served as a turning point for the team, which had struggled with inconsistent results during the first half of the season. This second consecutive victory confirms the team's desire to get back on track and climb to a position befitting its history. Meanwhile, Al-Fayha was looking to bounce back from their recent defeat and return with a positive result from Riyadh to maintain their position in the safe mid-table. This comes amidst fierce competition in the league this season, which has attracted international stars, increasing its strength and viewership both regionally and internationally.
Details of the exciting match
Al-Shabab dominated the first half from the outset, searching for an early goal to settle their nerves. They nearly opened the scoring in the 8th minute when Dutch defender Wesley Hoedt's header went just wide of the post. Despite Al-Shabab's control, Al-Fayha's counter-attacks posed a significant threat. Zambian striker Fashion Sakala almost caught the home side off guard in the 17th minute, but a decisive defensive intervention prevented him from scoring. Brazilian goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe was called into action again in the 31st minute, making a crucial save to deny Sakala a clear scoring opportunity. Just before halftime, Al-Shabab capitalized on their dominance with a well-worked move. Josh Brownhill a perfectly weighted cross and slotted it home with his right foot past Panamanian goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera in the 40th minute.
In the second half, Al-Fayha tried to get back into the game and intensified their attacking pressure, but goalkeeper Grohe's brilliance prevented them from doing so, as he made a superb save from Spaniard Jason Remeseiro's shot in the 61st minute. Luck was on Al-Shabab's side when the right post denied Al-Fayha an equalizer after a powerful shot from Sabri Dahal in the 65th minute. Despite both teams' efforts in the remaining minutes, the score remained unchanged, and the match ended with a well-deserved victory for Al-Shabab.
Impact on the ranking table
With this victory, Al-Shabab raised their points tally to 19, taking a significant step up the standings, while Al-Fayha remained on 20 points. This win provides a major morale boost for Al-Shabab ahead of their upcoming matches and confirms the team's recovery and ability to compete strongly in the second half of the Roshan League, which has garnered global attention.
