Armando Evangelista: We dominated the match but squandered the victory against Al-Khulud
Damac FC's Portuguese coach, Armando Evangelista, expressed his disappointment with the goalless draw against Al-Kholoud on Tuesday evening, in the 20th round of the Saudi Professional League. He asserted that his team was the better side but failed to convert their chances into goals, costing them two valuable points in their fight to improve their position in the league standings.
In the post-match press conference, Evangelista explained that his players delivered a strong tactical performance, particularly in the second half, where they dominated possession. He said, “We controlled the ball and created numerous chances, but the final touch eluded us. Al-Khulood, on the other hand, relied on a defensive strategy and counter-attacks, which posed some threat to our goal. However, the match was generally balanced and decided by fine margins.”.
Points battle in the advanced Roshan League
This draw comes at a time when the Saudi Professional League is witnessing fierce competition at all levels. With the league attracting major international stars in recent years, the technical and competitive level has risen significantly. There are no longer any easy matches, and every point has become doubly important, especially for teams seeking to secure their mid-table positions or escape relegation. Matches between closely positioned teams, such as Damac and Al-Kholoud, are considered "six-point matches" due to their direct impact on the standings of the competing teams.
The impact of the result on the teams' standings
With this result, Damac FC moved up to 12 points, occupying 15th place, while Al-Kholoud reached 16 points in 14th place, four points behind. Although the draw adds a point to each team's tally, it could be considered a disappointing result for Damac, who had hoped to capitalize on home advantage and secure a victory that would bring them closer to safety. Al-Kholoud, on the other hand, might view securing a point away from home against a direct rival as a positive outcome that strengthens their position in the relegation battle.
Future outlook and upcoming challenges
Coach Armando Evangelista will have to work intensively in upcoming training sessions on the attacking side and address the problem of missed opportunities that cost the team two valuable points. Staying in the professional league requires greater clinical finishing in front of goal. Meanwhile, Al-Kholoud will continue to rely on its defensive solidity and tactical organization to try and collect as many points as possible in the remaining rounds of the league, which promises plenty of excitement and fierce competition until the final whistle.
