Damac FC's first football team succeeded in breaking the barrier of negative results and achieving its first victory this season in the Saudi Professional League, after defeating its host, Al-Akhdoud FC, by one goal to nil, in the match that brought them together as part of the competitions of the twelfth round of the tournament, which was held at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium.
Al-Dhamk owes its precious victory to its Italian professional, Valentin Vada, who surprised the home side with an early and brilliant goal in the fifth minute with a long-range shot that found the back of the net, giving his team the advantage from the outset. Despite Al-Akhdoud's persistent attempts to get back into the game and level the score, the tight defensive organization of coach Cosmin Contra's squad prevented them from doing so, and the match ended with Damac securing all three points.
This victory holds immense strategic importance for Damac FC, coming after a long run of setbacks that included six draws and four losses, placing the team under considerable pressure since the start of the season. This win represents a lifeline that could restore balance to the team and give them the confidence needed to climb towards a more comfortable position in the standings, especially given the fierce competition in the Saudi league this season, which features a host of world-class players.
In the league standings, Damac's points tally jumped to nine with this victory, climbing to 14th place and temporarily moving away from the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Al-Akhdoud's situation worsened as their points total remained at five, leaving them in 17th place (second to last). This early warning sign for the team, which needs to regroup to avoid relegation.
The match was attended by 1,214 fans who experienced moments of tension and excitement, especially in the final minutes when Al-Akhdoud player Saleh Al-Abbas was shown a red card in the 94th minute, forcing his team to finish the game with ten men and extinguishing their hopes of a draw. These matches between mid-table and lower-ranked teams are crucial, known as "six-point matches" due to their direct impact on the relegation battle in a league currently considered one of the strongest in the region and the world.
