“Abdullah Matuq opens the scoring for Al Shabab after a corner is worked following an early offside flag.”
Pivotal“Ricardo Mathias doubles Al Shabab's lead right on the stroke of half-time, capitalising on the numerical advantage after a missed effort from Matuq and a resulting corner.”
Pivotal“Yannick Carrasco completes the scoring late on, finishing a move involving substitute Al-Aqel and Hamdallah before Mathias teed him up.”
Al Shabab
Al Taawoun
Outstanding performance
Al Shabab•AttackerAl Shabab produced a ruthless smash-and-grab victory, scoring three goals from just 13 shots while being thoroughly outplayed in possession and territory by Al Taawoun, who dominated the ball at 68% and created more dangerous attacks but had nothing to show for it. The turning point arrived in the 33rd minute when Ali Al-Bulayhi was sent off for a professional foul as last man, handing Al Shabab a numerical advantage they exploited ruthlessly either side of half-time through Abdullah Matuq and Ricardo Mathias. Yannick Carrasco put the result beyond doubt in the 85th minute, finishing off a move started by substitute Mohammed Al-Aqel and continued by Abderrazak Hamdallah before Mathias supplied the final touch. For Al Shabab, this is a statement win that will lift spirits regardless of league position, while Al Taawoun will be left to rue their profligacy in front of goal, having created plenty but converted none of their big chances.
How entertaining was this match?
Offside.
Marin Petkov's left-footed shot is saved.
Younes El Bahraoui takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Ali Al-Asmari is on, and Yacine Adli is off.
Awad Al Nashri replaces Ricardo Mathias.
Yannick Ferreira Carrasco takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
assist: Ricardo Mathias
Goal! Yannick Ferreira Carrasco scores, making it 3-0, assisted by Ricardo Mathias.
Marin Petkov takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Abderrazak Hamdallah takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Substitution: Mohammed Al-Aqel comes on for Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi.
Marin Petkov takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Zineddine BelaidYellow CardZineddine Belaid receives a yellow card.
Offside.
Yannick Ferreira Carrasco takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Abderrazak HamdallahYellow CardYellow card for Abderrazak Hamdallah.
Yacine Adli receives a yellow card.
Abdulrahman Hendi comes on for Faris Al Ghamdi.
Mohammed Al Saedi comes on for Ibrahim Mohannashi.
Yellow card for Aschraf El Mahdioui.
VAR decision results in a change of card for Aschraf El Mahdioui.
Corner awarded.
Dhari Sayyar Al-Anazi is on, and Sultan is off.
Abdullah Al-Hawsawi is on, and Abdullah Saeed is off.
Corner awarded.
Abderrazak Hamdallah takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Faris Al Ghamdi takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Younes El Bahraoui comes on for Parfait Guiagon.
Rakan Al-Tulayhi replaces Nedim Bajrami.
Nedim Bajrami takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Aschraf El Mahdioui takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Tin Jedvaj takes a right-footed shot, but it misses the target.
Marin PetkovYellow CardYellow card shown to Marin Petkov.
Abderrazak HamdallahVAR decision confirms that no penalty will be awarded for Abderrazak Hamdallah.
Marin Petkov attempts a left-footed shot but misses.
The first half ends with a score of 2-0.
Parfait Guiagon takes a shot with his right foot, but it is blocked.
Ricardo MathiasShot on goal! Ricardo Mathias takes a right-footed shot.
Yannick Ferreira Carrasco takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Goal! Ricardo Mathias scores, making it 2-0.
Yellow card issued to Faris Al Ghamdi.
Corner awarded.
Abdullah Matuq takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Abdullah Saeed receives a yellow card.
Shot by Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi with his left foot, but it misses the target.
Aschraf El Mahdioui takes a right-footed shot, but it misses the target.
Mamadou Thierno Barry is on, and Roger Martinez is off.
Marin Petkov takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Red card shown to Ali Al-Boleahi.
VAR decision leads to a change in the card for Ali Al-Boleahi.
Yacine Adli takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Josh Brownhill takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Muteb Al Mufarraj takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Abdullah MatuqAbdullah Matuq scores with a right-footed shot.
Abdullah Matuq takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Goal! Abdullah Saeed scores, making it 1-0.
Ricardo MathiasShot by Ricardo Mathias with another body part, but it misses the target.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Yacine Adli takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Offside.
Roger Martinez takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked off the line.
Parfait Guiagon takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Kick-off has occurred!
Al Shabab and Al Taawoun meet in Riyadh with both sides still searching for their first league win of the season. With just seven points between them from 15 games, this bottom-of-the-table clash is as much about ending the rot as it is about pride.
