“Benrahma steps up and strokes the penalty into the net with his right foot to give NEOM SC the lead, capitalising on Al-Shwirekh's foul moments earlier.”
Pivotal“Right on the stroke of half-time, Benrahma converts a second penalty to double NEOM's advantage, effectively killing the contest heading into the interval.”
Pivotal“Yannick Carrasco pulls one back for Al Shabab, setting up a nervy final ten minutes and giving the visitors a lifeline they had looked unlikely to earn.”
NEOM SC
Al Shabab
Outstanding performance
NEOM SC•AttackerNEOM SC secured a shrewd 2-1 victory over Al Shabab despite spending much of the evening second best on the statistical front. Al Shabab controlled the ball — 58% possession, 504 passes, 72 dangerous attacks to NEOM's 40 — yet found themselves undone twice from the penalty spot, with Benrahma ice-cold on both occasions to give NEOM a commanding 2-0 lead heading into the break. The half-time substitutions triggered a flurry of changes across both benches, and Al Shabab gradually found more attacking rhythm in the second period, eventually pulling one back through Yannick Carrasco on 78 minutes after a flurry of introductions finally sparked life into their attack. NEOM, however, showed defensive resolve when it mattered — their 20 tackles to Al Shabab's 13 illustrated a side willing to fight for the result — and the five saves from their goalkeeper proved equally vital in keeping the comeback at bay. For NEOM, the win is a timely boost to their push for a stronger end-of-season position, while Al Shabab will rue their inability to convert a clear territorial advantage into goals when the game was still alive in the first half.
How entertaining was this match?
Mohammed Al-Burayk replaces Amadou Koné.
Islam Hawsawi is substituted off for Muhannad Al Saad.
Yacine Adli's left-footed shot is blocked.
Abdullah Matuq is on, and Hammam Al-Hammami is off.
Muhannad Al Saad takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Josh Brownhill attempts a header but misses the shot.
Khalifah Al-DawsariYellow CardKhalifah Al-Dawsari receives a yellow card.
Basil Al-Sayali replaces Vincent Sierro.
Yannick Ferreira Carrasco takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Hussain Al-Sabiyani is on, and Ali bin Abdulqader bin Suleiman Makki is off.
Alexandre Lacazette takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Rayane Messi is on, and Luciano Rodriguez Rosales is off.
Salman Alfaraj comes on for Abdulmalik Al-Oyayari.
Wesley Hoedt takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Yannick Ferreira Carrasco takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Yacine Adli takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Hammam Al-Hammami takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Ali Al-Asmari takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Muhannad Al Saad comes on for Mohamed Said Benrahma.
Yannick Ferreira Carrasco takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Abdulaziz Al Othman replaces Ali Azaizeh.
Ali Al-Asmari is on, and Mohammed Al Shwirekh is off.
The first half ends with a score of 2-0.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Mohamed Said Benrahma scores, making it 2-0.
Shot on goal! Mohamed Said Benrahma takes a right-footed shot.
Luciano Rodriguez Rosales takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Abdulmalik Al-Oyayari takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Nathan Zeze attempts a header but misses the shot.
Ali Azaizeh takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Goal! Mohamed Said Benrahma scores from the penalty spot to make it 1-0.
Shot on goal! Mohamed Said Benrahma takes a right-footed shot.
Shot by Mohamed Said Benrahma with his right foot misses the target.
Mohammed Al-ShwirekhYellow CardYellow card shown to Mohammed Al Shwirekh.
Shot from Mohamed Said Benrahma with his left foot, but it's saved.
Mohamed Al-Thani takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Amadou Koné's left-footed shot is saved.
Yannick Ferreira Carrasco takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
