What happened in Roshn Saudi League’s matchweek 15
Cristiano Ronaldo got off the mark for Al Nassr and Al Taawoun left it late during Roshn Saudi League’s matchweek 15.
Details and match highlights are below.
ABHA 2-0 AL KHALEEJ
Saad Natiq and Saad Bguir struck in the final 20 minutes as Abha defeated Al Khaleej.
Iraq defender Natiq acrobatically headed home on 71 minutes, before Tunisia schemer Bguir raced through the promoted side’s defence to slot in.
The result saw Abha end the round in seventh, while Al Khaleej sit 14th.
AL SHABAB 2-1 DAMAC
Santi Mina and Carlos Jr scored in quick succession in the opening stages, but Al Shabab were still forced to hold on for a valuable win against Damac.
Mina swooped in for the ninth-minute opener and Carlos Jr stylishly scored the second in the 10th minute. Damac, however, kept pressing, although Abdulaziz Makin’s 91st-minute shot came too late for the determined visitors at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.
Al Shabab are locked in a three-way tie at the top on 34 points. Damac are eighth.
AL BATIN 0-1 AL TAAWOUN
Hassan Kadesh struck in the 92nd minute when 10-man Al Taawoun defeated Al Batin.
The visitors appeared set to drop points in their fight for the top four when Sulaiman Hazazi was dismissed in first-half stoppage time. But centre-back Kadesh kept his cool and struck from close range, during the final seconds.
Al Taawoun have cemented their hold on fifth, while Al Batin stay bottom.
AL FATEH 2-2 AL NASSR
Ronaldo opened his Al Nassr account with a 93rd-minute penalty and ensured the title chasers were not defeated at Al Fateh.
Debutant Cristiano Tello and Algeria schemer Sofiane Bendebka volleyed home for the hosts. Levellers from Al Nassr came, first, via Talisca’s low finish – the 13-goal leading marksman would later be dismissed – and Ronaldo’s spot-kick.
Al Fateh now are sixth, while Al Nassr lead the standings.
ETTIFAQ 3-2 AL ADALAH
Ettifaq raced back from 2-1 down to defeat 10-man Al Adalah in a rollercoaster contest.
Youssoufou Niakate gave the hosts in Dammam the early lead, but promoted Al Adalah turned it around by 47 minutes after debutants Boris Godal and Marcus Antonsson struck. Peru midfielder Christofer Gonzales was then dismissed for the visitors, with Robin Quaison’s penalty and Viitnho’s superb team goal turning things around for Ettifaq.
Ettifaq are in ninth place, while Al Adalah are second bottom.
AL TAI 0-1 AL ITTIHAD
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Al Ittihad were made to wait – into the fifth minute of second-half injury time – to pick up all three points against Al Tai.
The decisive moment in Ha’il came when Igor Coronado fired out a speculative effort from distance, with 30 seconds left on the clock. This sparked wild celebrations, on the pitch and with the away fans.
The result puts Al Ittihad into third, level on points with leaders Al Nassr and Al Shabab. Al Tai are 10th.
AL FAYHA 2-0 AL WEHDA
Al Fayha moved further away from the relegation places thanks to goals from Victor Ruiz and Sultan Mandash against Al Wehda.
Ruiz converted a penalty just before the break after an infringement in the box. Mandash’s faint touch from a cross sealed the three points for the hosts.
Al Fayha moved up to 11th, while Al Wehda are 13th.