“Leandro Antunes breaks the deadlock for Al Riyadh against the run of play. Angelo Fulgini's right-footed effort is blocked, but Antunes reacts quickest to fire home with his right foot, silencing the home crowd and rewarding Al Riyadh's resolute defensive display.”
Pivotal“Roger Martínez steps up and coolly converts from the spot to level proceedings for Al Taawoun, wiping out Al Riyadh's lead just six minutes after they had taken it. The penalty brings the hosts back into the match and reflects the pressure they had been applying throughout.”
Pivotal“Leandro Antunes, who had given Al Riyadh the lead just over 20 minutes earlier, picks up a yellow card for a foul — a booking that will likely have consequences for his availability in upcoming fixtures.”
Al Taawoun
Al Riyadh
Outstanding performance
Al Taawoun•MidfielderAl Taawoun dominated this fixture in almost every statistical category — 73% possession, 595 passes at 90% accuracy, 20 shots, and a dangerous attack count of 61 to Al Riyadh's 13 — yet somehow found themselves trailing heading into the final quarter of the match. Leandro Antunes broke the deadlock for Al Riyadh in the 61st minute, capitalising on a moment of clinical efficiency from a side that had spent most of the afternoon penned inside their own half. Al Taawoun's response was immediate: Roger Martínez stepped up to convert a penalty just six minutes later, restoring parity and ensuring the hosts would not suffer the injustice of defeat despite their overwhelming territorial control. The draw ultimately flatters Al Riyadh, who managed only three shots on target compared to their opponents' six big chance attempts, but their defensive resilience — 11 tackles, 12 fouls — frustrated an Al Taawoun side that wasted the lion's share of their opportunities and will rue dropping two points from a match they largely controlled.
How entertaining was this match?
Sultan Harun comes on for Mamadou Sylla Diallo.
Mohammed Hamad Al Qahtani replaces Flavio Medeiros da Silva.
Ammar Al-Harfi comes on for Leandro Antunes.
Shot by Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi with his right foot goes wide.
Shot by Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi with his right foot misses the target.
Teddy Okou's left-footed shot is blocked.
Aschraf El Mahdioui takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Flavio Medeiros da Silva takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Roger Martinez takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Leandro Antunes takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Gabriel Teixeira Aragao comes on for Muteb Al Mufarraj.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Roger Martinez scores, making it 1-1.
Roger Martinez scores with a right-footed shot.
Leandro AntunesLeandro Antunes scores with a right-footed shot.
Angelo Fulgini takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Yoann Barbet takes a shot with another part of his body but misses.
Marin Petkov takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Leandro Antunes takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Marin Petkov takes a left-footed shot but misses.
The first half ends with a score of 0-0.
Marin Petkov's left-footed shot is blocked.
Teddy Okou takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Leandro Antunes takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Yoann Barbet takes a left-footed shot that hits the post.
Leandro Antunes takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Leandro Antunes takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Andrei Girotto's header is saved.
Shot by Mohammed Mahzari with his right foot misses the target.
Leandro Antunes takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Roger Martinez takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Muteb Al Mufarraj's header is blocked.
Roger Martinez takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Sergio González takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Leandro Antunes takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Andrei Girotto takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Andrei Girotto takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Muteb Al Mufarraj's header is blocked.
Shot by Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi with his left foot is blocked.
Mamadou Sylla Diallo takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Leandro Antunes takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Al Taawoun host struggling Al Riyadh at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in a match where the stakes couldn't be more different — the hosts are chasing European-style top-four ambitions while their opponents desperately need points to escape the relegation zone. With a 26-point gap separating these two sides, form and momentum firmly favor the home team, but derbies rarely follow the script.
