In a memorable football match at Al-Hazm Club Stadium in Ar Rass, Al-Shabab secured a resounding and well-deserved 4-0 victory over their hosts, Al-Hazm, in the 19th round of the Saudi Professional League. This win marks Al-Shabab's third consecutive victory in the league, reflecting a marked improvement in the team's performance and their ambition to climb the standings.
The general context of the match and its importance:
The two teams entered the match with contrasting objectives. Al-Shabab, one of the most established clubs in Saudi football, sought to confirm its recent resurgence and accumulate points to distance itself from the relegation zone and move closer to mid-table after a disappointing start to the season. Meanwhile, Al-Hazm was embroiled in a fierce battle to avoid relegation, languishing at the bottom of the table and desperately needing every point to improve its precarious position. These circumstances made the match a crucial encounter for both sides, although Al-Shabab held a slight edge in terms of both technical ability and historical record.
Match details and turning point:
The first half was largely balanced, with Al-Shabab enjoying a slight advantage in possession but without creating any real danger for Al-Hazm's goal. Both teams displayed tactical caution throughout the half, until the decisive turning point came in the 39th minute when the referee showed Al-Hazm defender Saud Al-Rashed his second yellow card, followed by a red, leaving the home side to play the remainder of the match with ten men. This numerical disadvantage significantly disrupted Al-Hazm's defensive balance and gave Al-Shabab a clear advantage to exploit.
Youthful explosion in the second half:
At the start of the second half, Al Shabab completely dominated, capitalizing on their numerical advantage. The "Leopard" didn't waste any time in converting their superiority, with Brazilian star Carlos Junior the scoring in the 51st minute after an excellent finish from a cross. Junior then added a second goal with a perfectly placed header from a corner kick in the 65th minute. In the 75th minute, Al Shabab were awarded a penalty, which was successfully converted by new English signing Josh Brownhill , scoring his first goal for the team. Just a minute before the final whistle, Carlos Junior completed his hat-trick and his team's fourth goal, pouncing on a rebound off the crossbar to cap off the goal fest.
The impact of the result on the league standings:
With this resounding victory, Al-Shabab raised their points tally to 21, temporarily climbing to tenth place and comfortably distancing themselves from the relegation zone as they continue their climb up the league table. Meanwhile, Al-Hazm remain rooted to the bottom of the table with 13 points, further complicating their situation and diminishing their hopes of avoiding relegation, placing immense pressure on the team in the remaining matches of the season.
