“Lázaro stepped up and drilled a right-footed penalty into the net in first-half stoppage time, giving Al Najma a 1-0 lead they would not relinquish.”
Pivotal“With Al Shabab chasing the game early in the second half, Nawaf Al-Hawsawi was booked for a foul, typifying the increasingly frustrated approach from the dominant but scoreless side.”
Al Najma
Al Shabab
Al Najma pulled off a disciplined upset against Al Shabab, holding firm defensively against a side that dominated possession 64-36 and racked up 89 dangerous attacks to their opponents' 32. Despite being thoroughly second-best in terms of ball retention and territory, Al Najma showed real cutting edge from their limited opportunities, registering 12 shots to Al Shabab's 8 and converting the one moment that truly mattered — a Lázaro penalty awarded via VAR on the stroke of half-time. The match turned feisty early, with four yellow cards arriving in the opening half-hour as both sides made their physical intentions clear, and Rakan Al-Tulayhi was central to the decisive sequence, earning the penalty that Lázaro coolly dispatched. The second half was a story of Al Shabab pressing for an equaliser they never found, with Al Najma's backline — who made 25 tackles — absorbing wave after wave of pressure to claim all three points in what is a meaningful result in their Pro League campaign.
How entertaining was this match?
Josh Brownhill takes a shot with his head, but it misses the target.
Nasser Al-HaleelYellow CardNasser Al-Haleel receives a yellow card.
Vitor Vargas comes on for Nawaf Al-Hawsawi.
Hussain Al-Sabiyani comes on for Ali Al-Boleahi.
Yacine Adli takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
David Tijanic's left-footed shot is saved.
Bilal Boutobba is substituted for Rakan Al-Tulayhi.
Lazaro Vinicius Marques takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Unai Hernandez replaces Basil Al-Sayali.
Rakan Al-Tulayhi takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Mubarak Al-Rajeh comes on for Ali bin Abdulqader bin Suleiman Makki.
Abdulaziz Al-Harabi takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Felippe Cardoso's right-footed shot is saved.
Abdulaziz Al-Harabi takes a right-footed shot but misses.
VAR decision confirms a penalty awarded to Rakan Al-Tulayhi.
Haroune CamaraYellow CardYellow card issued to Haroune Camara.
Nawaf Al-HawsawiYellow CardNawaf Al-Hawsawi receives a yellow card.
Abdullah Saeed is on, and Ali Azaizeh is off.
The first half ends with a score of 1-0.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Lazaro Vinicius Marques scores, making it 1-0.
LázaroLazaro Vinicius Marques takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
VAR decision confirms a penalty awarded to Rakan Al-Tulayhi.
Hammam Al-Hammami's right-footed shot is saved.
Khaled Al Shammari's header is saved.
Wesley HoedtYellow CardWesley Hoedt receives a yellow card.
Rakan Al-TulayhiVAR decision results in a change of card for Rakan Al-Tulayhi.
Mohammed Al Fatil attempts a header but misses the shot.
Lazaro Vinicius Marques takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Ali Al-Boleahi attempts a header but misses the shot.
Haroune Camara takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Felippe Cardoso takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Wesley Hoedt attempts a header but misses the shot.
Lazaro Vinicius Marques takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Haroune Camara's header is blocked.
Al Najma sit deep in the relegation zone at 18th place with just 13 points, making this a desperate home fixture against a mid-table Al Shabab side. The hosts' dreadful recent form makes this a must-not-lose situation, while Shabab will look to consolidate their position. Expect a tense, low-scoring affair with plenty at stake for the home side.
