3 – 1
“Iker Kortajarena Canellada opens the scoring for Al Kholood, finishing off a Coba Gomez da Costa assist against the run of play.”
Pivotal“Ivan Toney levels for Al Ahli, converting after a spell of sustained pressure and a chance created by Eduard Spertsyan.”
Pivotal“Julien Domingues pounces in a goalmouth scramble following a blocked shot and resulting corner to put Al Kholood back in front.”
Pivotal“Mohammed Hussain Sawan wraps up the win deep into stoppage time after Al Ahli pushed forward in desperation and failed to convert two late chances of their own.”
Pivotal
Al Kholood
Al Ahli
Outstanding performance
Al Ahli•AttackerAl Ahli dominated the ball for long stretches, racking up 68% possession, 353 passes and 54 dangerous attacks compared to Al Kholood's meagre 15, yet it was the home side who made their few chances count. Iker Kortajarena's clinical finish against the run of play put Al Kholood ahead just before the half-hour, and despite Ivan Toney dragging Al Ahli level in the 66th minute after a sustained spell of pressure, Al Kholood's ruthless efficiency shone through again. Julien Domingues restored the lead in the 85th minute from a scrappy corner scramble, before Mohammed Hussain Sawan sealed it deep into stoppage time, capping off a stunning finish from just two shots on target all match. For Al Ahli, this will sting given their statistical dominance and creative control, while Al Kholood's smash-and-grab win offers a timely lift to their season given the pre-match context of zone and form pressures.
How entertaining was this match?
Sultan Al-Shahri is on, and Julien Domingues is off.
Shot by Mohammed Hussain Sawan with his left foot results in a goal.
assist: Coba da Costa
Goal! Mohammed Hussain Sawan scores to make it 3-1, assisted by Coba Gomez da Costa.
Eduard Spertsyan takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Abdullah Radif's header is saved.
Abdullah Radif attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Abdullah Radif is on, and Artem Bondarenko is off.
Julien DominguesShot by Julien Domingues with his right foot results in a goal.
assist: Ramzi Solan
Goal! Julien Domingues scores to make it 2-1, assisted by Ramzi Solan.
Artem Bondarenko takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Roger Ibanez Da Silva takes a shot, but it is blocked.
On comes Mohammed Hussain Sawan, off goes Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa.
Mansour CamaraYellow CardMansour Camara receives a yellow card.
Abdulrahman Al-Dosari is on, and Iker Kortajarena Canellada is off.
Saleh Abu Al-Shamat takes a header shot, but it misses the target.
Eduard Spertsyan takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Ivan ToneyShot by Ivan Toney with his right foot results in a goal.
assist: Eduard Spertsyan
Goal! Ivan Toney scores to make it 1-1, assisted by Eduard Spertsyan.
Zakaria Al Hawsaw comes on for Saad Yaslam.
Saleh Abu Al-Shamat comes on for Firas Al-Buraikan.
Francisco Trincao takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Francisco Trincao takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
On comes Mohammed Yousef, off goes Rayan Hamed.
The first half ends with a score of 1-0.
Ivan Toney attempts a header but misses the shot.
Ivan ToneyYellow CardYellow card issued to Ivan Toney.
Francisco Trincao takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Francisco Trincao takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Yellow card shown to Hamed Yousef Al-Shanqiti.
Iker KortajarenaShot by Iker Kortajarena Canellada with his left foot results in a goal.
assist: Coba da Costa
Goal! Iker Kortajarena Canellada scores to make it 1-0, assisted by Coba Gomez da Costa.
Offside.
Offside.
Artem Bondarenko takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Artem Bondarenko takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Offside.
Ivan ToneyVAR decision results in the penalty being cancelled for Ivan Toney.
Kick-off has occurred!
Al Ahli carry momentum from a continental cup win and an unbeaten defensive record into Saturday's trip to face Al Kholood at Ar-Rass Stadium. The visitors sit one place and one point ahead of their hosts in the early Pro League standings, making this a tasty mid-table battle with a derby edge. Can Al Kholood's home crowd inspire an upset, or will Al Ahli's formidable backline keep rolling?
