What happened in Roshn Saudi League’s matchweek 19
A flurry of late goal across the grounds defined a dramatic matchweek 19 in Roshn Saudi League.
Details and match highlights are below.
AL FATEH 2-3 AL TAI
Knowledge Musona struck in second-half injury time when Al Tai edged a rollercoaster contest with Al Fateh.
A brace from Saudi Arabia striker Firas Al Buraikan had been matched by efforts from Musona and Congo striker Guy Mbenza. But the Zimbabwe international completed a flowing team move in the 92nd minute to prevail.
Al Tai sit seventh, three points and one place below Al Fateh.
AL FAYHA 2-0 ABHA
Al Fayha returned to winning ways with strikes at the end of both halves.
Paulinho’s consummate 47th-minute finish and Sultan Mandash’s 97th-minute breakaway ended a two-match drawing streak, plus made it four-consecutive losses for the visitors.
Al Fayha move up to eighth. Abha sit in 11th.
AL WEHDA 3-3 AL HILAL
Al Wehda and Al Hilal exchanged goals past the 90-minute mark in an enthralling stalemate.
Holders Al Hilal – back in top-flight action for the first time since making the FIFA Club World Cup and 2022 AFC Champions League finals – were pegged back three times by opponents who refused to be beaten.
Promoted Al Wehda stay 13th. Al Hilal are fifth, losing more ground in the title race.
AL RAED 1-2 ETTIFAQ
Antonio Cazorla’s Ettifaq pounced in both injury times to complete a valuable comeback at Al Raed.
Moroccan midfielder Mohammed Fouzair put the hosts ahead, only for Sweden forward Robin Quaison to net in the 47th minute and Sanousi Hawsawi to complete the job in the 97th minute. This handed Spanish boss Cazorla debut victory.
Al Raed are 12th and Ettifaq sit 10th.
AL KHALEEJ 0-3 AL ITTIHAD
A trio of second-half goals ensured Al Ittihad maintained their title pursuit.
Promoted Al Khaleej proved tricky opponents. But Morocco centre forward Abderrazak Hamdallah’s 12th top-flight strike in 2022/23, Romarinho’s one-on-one and Ahmed Sharahili’s header separated the sides after the interval.
Al Ittihad stay second. Promoted Al Khaleej are 14th.
AL NASSR 3-1 AL BATIN
A trio of injury time goals from the 93rd minute ensured Al Nassr retained control in the title race.
Uruguayan centre forward Renzo Lopez’s 17th-minute header put bottom-placed Al Batin ahead until second-half injury time. Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s swept leveller, Mohammed Al Fatil’s 112th-minute half volley and fellow-substitute Mohammed Maran’s composed 114th-minute finish caused an epic comeback.
Al Nassr are two-points ahead, in first. Al Batin stay 16th.
DAMAC 1-2 AL TAAWOUN
Al Taawoun gatecrashed the top four after a dogged performance at Damac ended a three-match winless streak.
Leandre Tawamba and Fahad Al Rashidi netted either side of half-time. Mansour Hamzi then struck for the hosts at Damac Club Stadium, who battled hard to try and force a leveller.
Al Taawoun move up to fourth. Damac drop to ninth.
AL SHABAB 1-2 AL ADALAH
Relegation-threatened Al Adalah stunned title-chasing Al Shabab with a 97th-minute clincher.
Gabon forward Aaron Boupendza’s cool finish appeared to have set third-placed Al Shabab on their way. But breakaway efforts from Slovenian midfielder David Tijanic and Pedro Eugenio turned the game around.
Al Shabab sit third, six points off the lead. Al Adalah stay 15th and in the relegation zone, but are now level on points with Al Khaleej who sit outside it.