Neom team succeeded in restoring the winning rhythm and correcting its course in the Saudi Professional League, after achieving a valuable victory over its host, Al-Hazm team, by two goals to one, in the strong match that brought them together on Sunday evening, as part of the competitions of the thirteenth round of the competition.
Match details and goals
The match was highly competitive, with both teams striving to impose their style from the outset. Neom waited until the second half to capitalize on their attacking dominance, with French star Alexandre Lacazette the scoring in the 59th minute, giving his team the lead and boosting their confidence. Just minutes before the end of regulation time, Luciano Rodriguez Neom's advantage, scoring their second goal in the 88th minute, securing the three points for his team. In stoppage time, Algerian star Amir Sayoud to reduce the deficit for Al-Hazm, scoring a penalty in the 90+5th minute, but time ran out for the home side to mount a comeback.
Neom regains confidence after Al-Ittihad's setback
This victory holds particular significance for NEOM FC, as it came as a strong and immediate response to their previous 3-1 defeat against Al-Ittihad. This win demonstrates the team's growing resilience and ability to quickly overcome setbacks, a positive sign for the ambitious club project representing NEOM, a key pillar of Saudi Vision 2030. The club aims to be a prestigious sporting institution that reflects the region's urban and economic development.
The positive momentum has stopped
On the other hand, this setback halted Al-Hazm's impressive run of form, which had been marked by a string of positive results. Al-Hazm entered the match riding high on a three-game unbeaten streak, which included a win against Al-Riyadh, a draw with Al-Fayha, and a victory over Al-Kholoud, following their earlier heavy defeat against Al-Khaleej. This loss serves as a wake-up call for the team, highlighting the need to regroup and avoid slipping back into a cycle of negative results.
The two teams' positions in the standings
With this result, NEOM's points tally jumped to 20, placing them seventh in the Roshan League standings. This puts them comfortably in the middle of the table with aspirations of competing for continental qualification spots in the future. Meanwhile, Al-Hazm's points remained at 13, leaving them in eleventh place. This position requires them to be cautious and work hard in the upcoming rounds to avoid relegation, given the fierce competition in the league this season.
