Dramatic Results Highlight Game Week Nine of the Saudi Pro League

Game week nine of the Saudi Pro League kicked off on Friday 21 November with Al Kholood suffering a 2-1 defeat to Al Hazem. It marked Al Kholood’s third league loss in a row, leaving the club in eleventh place and only four points above the relegation zone. Worrying signs for Des Buckingham.

Meanwhile Al Ittihad returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Al Riyadh. Captain Karim Benzema was on the scoresheet for the champions. Al Amid climbed to seventh on the table, thirteen points behind leaders Al Nassr.

The AFC Champions League holders Al Ahli secured maximum points against Al Qadasiya thanks to goals from Wenderson Galeno and Franck Kessie. Mateo Retegui struggled to make an impact throughout the match.

Elsewhere Damac and Al Najma played out a 0-0 draw. Damac were clearly the better side with more possession and more attempts but could not find the back of the net. They missed the chance to climb the table and remain in the relegation zone on goal difference, level on points with Al Akhdoud. Al Najma stay bottom with only one point.

A brace from Moussa Dembele and a goal from captain Georginio Wijnaldum earned Al Ettifaq a hard fought 3-2 win over Al Fayha, lifting them into the top half of the table in ninth place.

Al Hilal defeated Al Fateh 2-1 with former Premier League stars Darwin Nunez and Ruben Neves both scoring.

Al Shabab were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Akhdoud.

The match of the week was between Al Nassr and Al Khaleel, which ended in a 4-1 win for the hosts. Joao Felix opened the scoring in the thirty ninth minute and three minutes later Brazilian prodigy Wesley doubled Al Nassr’s advantage. Murad Al Hawsawi pulled one back for the visitors in the forty seventh minute before Sadio Mane restored Faris Najd’s two goal cushion in the seventy seventh minute. The match seemed set to finish that way until Cristiano Ronaldo produced a jaw dropping bicycle kick in stoppage time. The goal drew worldwide attention and has already been hailed by many as the goal of the season.

The week concluded with Al Taawoun and newly promoted NEOM SC drawing 1-1. Said Benrahma believed he had secured all three points for the visitors after converting a penalty in the ninety fifth minute. However Waleed Al Ahmad had other ideas. Sultan Mandash delivered a precise corner in the ninety seventeenth minute and Al Ahmad headed it home. It was a painful finish for NEOM who missed the chance to rise to sixth place. They remain in eighth while Al Taawoun drop to third in the league.