“Aboubacar Bah opens the scoring just minutes after kick-off, giving Al Hazm an early lead they would defend for the rest of the match.”
Pivotal“Saif Rajab is booked twice in quick succession for fouls, reflecting Al Hazm's increasingly physical approach to containing Al Taawoun's pressure.”
“Sultan Tunkar picks up a booking as Al Hazm continue to absorb waves of Al Taawoun pressure late in the match.”
Al Hazm
Al Taawoun
Outstanding performance
Al Taawoun•MidfielderAl Hazm needed just three minutes to settle this one, with Aboubacar Bah finishing clinically to give the hosts a lead they would defend for the remaining 87 minutes. What followed was a near-total siege, as Al Taawoun racked up 71% possession, 20 shots to Al Hazm's 8, and 81 dangerous attacks compared to just 20 - yet found themselves unable to break through. Al Hazm's back line put in a heroic defensive shift, winning 18 tackles and committing to physical, disruptive football that eventually spilled into four yellow cards, including a costly double booking for Saif Rajab. Despite creating zero big chances themselves, Al Taawoun's profligacy and Al Hazm's five saves proved the difference, handing the hosts a statistically improbable win that will lift them from their lowly mid-table standing while leaving Al Taawoun to rue a wasteful afternoon in their pursuit of the title race.
How entertaining was this match?
Aboubacar Diakite comes on for Afimico Pululu.
Corner awarded.
Abdullah Al-Shanqiti is on, and Sofiane Bendebka is off.
Shot by Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi with his left foot is blocked.
Shot by Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi with his left foot, but it misses the target.
Shot by Mohammed Al Hamdani with his right foot is saved.
Substitution: Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi comes on for Saif Rashad Mohamed.
Marin Petkov takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Saif Rashad Mohamed takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Afimico Pululu takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Corner awarded.
Sultan Tanker receives a yellow card.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Muteb Al Mufarraj takes a header shot but misses.
Muteb Al Mufarraj takes a header shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Rakan Al-Tulayhi is on, and Awn Mutlaq Al Slaluli is off.
Ibrahim Mahnashi replaces Nedim Bajrami.
Yellow card for Abdurahman Al Dakheel.
Corner awarded.
Sofiane Bendebka's header is saved.
Corner awarded.
Aboubacar Bah takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Ahmed Mohammed Hansh Al Shamrani is on, and Elton Acolatse is off.
Ahmed Al-Nakhli is on, and Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida is off.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Yellow card issued to Saif Rashad Mohamed.
Parfait Guiagon takes a shot with his right foot, but it is blocked.
Elton Acolatse attempts a header but misses the shot.
Offside.
Offside.
First half ends with a score of 1-0.
Mohammed Al-Aqel is on, and Bassam Al Hurayji is off.
Nedim Bajrami takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Offside.
Saif Rashad Mohamed takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Aschraf El Mahdioui takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Marin Petkov has a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Shot by Aschraf El Mahdioui with his right foot, but it's saved.
Awn Mutlaq Al Slaluli takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Saif Rashad Mohamed takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Mohammed Al Hamdani comes on for Abdulaziz Al-Dhuwayhi.
Offside.
Parfait Guiagon takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Elton Acolatse takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Marin Petkov takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Afimico Pululu takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Aschraf El Mahdioui takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Aschraf El Mahdioui takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Shot by Aschraf El Mahdioui with his left foot is blocked.
Saif Rashad Mohamed takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Aboubacar BahShot by Aboubacar Bah with his right foot results in a goal.
Goal! Aboubacar Bah scores, making it 1-0.
Kick-off! The referee is Khaled Al Teris.
Al Hazm host Al Taawoun in a Pro League clash between two teams searching for consistency this season. Both sides arrive with underwhelming recent form, making this a genuine toss-up at Ar-Rass Stadium.
