“Chris Smalling broke the deadlock for Al-Fayha, the experienced defender converting to put the visitors ahead and hand the home side an uphill task.”
Pivotal“Iker Kortajarena levelled for Al Kholood just nine minutes after Smalling's opener, restoring parity before the break and swinging the momentum back to the home side.”
Pivotal“Mohammed Al-Baqawi was booked for a foul, a sign of Al Kholood's increasingly physical approach as they looked to contain Al-Fayha's attacking threat in the second period.”
“Sultan Al-Shehri was also cautioned for a foul, compounding Al Kholood's disciplinary issues and adding further nerves to a tightly contested second half.”
Al Kholood
Al-Fayha
Outstanding performance
Al-Fayha•DefenderAl-Fayha looked the more threatening side throughout, registering eight shots to Al Kholood's five and generating a remarkable 49 dangerous attacks compared to the hosts' 27, yet they were ultimately unable to convert that territorial superiority into a winning result. Chris Smalling, the veteran English centre-back, made an unlikely impact at the attacking end, heading Al-Fayha in front on the half-hour mark in what was the game's opening moment of quality. Al Kholood responded quickly through Iker Kortajarena, who levelled matters nine minutes later to ensure the teams went into the break on equal terms. The second half was a disjointed affair punctuated by yellow cards for Mohammed Al-Baqawi and Sultan Al-Shehri and a flurry of tactical substitutions, but neither side could find the decisive breakthrough despite Al-Fayha's continued dominance in dangerous attacks. The draw does little for either club's ambitions — Al Kholood remain in mid-table with questions about their defensive solidity, while Al-Fayha will rue their inability to capitalise on a performance that statistically merited more.
How entertaining was this match?
Abdulrahman Al-Dosari comes on for John Buckley.
Chris Smalling attempted a header but missed the shot.
Yassine Benzia takes a shot with his right foot, but it is saved.
Ammar Mohammed Al Khaibari replaces Abdullah Radif.
Hassan Al-Asmari replaces Norbert Gyomber.
David Remeseiro Salgueiro takes a shot, but Jason misses with a left-footed attempt.
Alfa Semedo's header is blocked.
Mohammed Hussain Sawan takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Mohammed Hussain Sawan is on, and Guga is off.
The first half ends with a score of 1-1.
Mokher Al-Rashidi comes on for Mikel Villanueva Alvarez.
Fashion Sakala takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Fashion Sakala takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Guga's header is blocked.
Chris SmallingChris Smalling scores with a header.
Hattan Bahebri's right-footed shot is blocked.
Guga takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Al Kholood host Al-Fayha in a crucial Pro League battle where both sides are fighting to stay clear of relegation trouble. With Al Kholood having hammered their rivals 5-0 earlier this season, Al-Fayha arrive desperate for revenge but in worrying form of their own.
