The Saudi First Division League, the main gateway to the Roshan Professional League, witnessed a round full of excitement and football drama, as three important matches were held on Tuesday, which changed the features of the competition for the top of the standings and the relegation positions.
The general context and fierce competition in the Yellow League
The Yellow League, a first-division football league, is a fiercely contested arena where clubs compete not only for the title but also for the dream of promotion to the Saudi Professional League. Every match is crucial, as every point earned could be the deciding factor in achieving promotion or avoiding the nightmare of relegation. As the season nears its decisive stages, the tension mounts and the importance of results grows, making each round feel like an early final for the aspiring teams.
Abha's comeback strengthens their lead against Al-Orouba
In today's standout match, league leaders Abha staged a remarkable comeback against hosts Al-Orouba, overturning a one-goal deficit to secure a valuable 2-1 victory. The home side opened the scoring through Ayman Al-Hujaili in the 23rd minute, putting Abha under considerable pressure. However, the "Leader of the South" displayed the character of champions in the second half, with Nasser Al-Dajani equalizing in the 63rd minute. Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, striker Silla Sow snatched a dramatic winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time (90+7), sparking jubilation among the Abha fans. With this victory, Abha increased their points tally to 51, further cementing their position at the top of the table, while Al-Orouba remain on 40 points in fourth place, suffering a blow to their hopes of direct promotion.
Al-Ula snatches a dramatic victory and climbs to second place
The thrill of late goals wasn't limited to the Abha match, as Al-Ula's encounter with their guest Al-Arabi unfolded in a similar fashion. Al-Ula took the lead with a goal from Michel in the 62nd minute and maintained it until the final minutes, when Al-Arabi equalized through Gatouchi in the 88th minute. Just when everyone thought the match would end in a draw, Danilo Barbosa snatched the winning goal for Al-Ula in the 90+7th minute. This valuable victory raised Al-Ula's points tally to 40, propelling them to second place in the standings and reinforcing their strong promotion aspirations. Meanwhile, this loss compounded Al-Arabi's woes, leaving them stuck on 13 points in 16th place, threatened with relegation.
Al-Ta'i breathes a sigh of relief with an important victory over Al-Adalah
In the third match, Al-Tai secured a well-deserved away victory against Al-Adalah, winning 3-1. Al-Tai took an early lead through Torles Knoll (16th minute), but Al-Adalah equalized through Riyadh Al-Ibrahim (30th minute). In the second half, Al-Tai sealed the win with an own goal by Al-Adalah's Mohammed Al-Dossari (64th minute), before Hussein Al-Shurafa added a third goal (85th minute). This victory lifted Al-Tai to 24 points, placing them tenth in the standings and moving them further away from the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Al-Adalah remained stuck on 15 points in fifteenth place, deepening their struggle to avoid relegation.
