Al-Khuloud Stuns Al-Ahly With Late Winner as Saudi Pro League Tightens
In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, Al-Khuloud snatched a vital 1-0 victory over a shell-shocked Al-Ahly, ending the Jeddah giants’ five-game winning streak in the Saudi Pro League. The decisive goal arrived in the heart-stopping moments of stoppage time, courtesy of Spanish midfielder Alex Collado, securing a hard-fought win for Al-Khuloud.
The game’s narrative dramatically shifted in the 54th minute when Al-Ahly’s Turkish center-back Merih Demiral saw red for a reckless challenge, leaving his side to play with ten men for the remainder of the match. This numerical disadvantage proved costly as Al-Khuloud, fueled by the momentum, ruthlessly capitalized on the opportunity. This triumph marks Al-Khuloud’s fourth win of the season, propelling them up to twelfth place with 16 points. Meanwhile, Al-Ahly’s bid for a temporary move into third place was effectively stymied, their points tally remaining at 26, keeping them in fifth position.
Another exhilarating encounter saw Al-Shabab stage a remarkable comeback against Riyadh, snatching a 2-1 victory after trailing early in the game. Daniel Podence’s goal in the 72nd minute and a dramatic strike from Abdel Razzaq Hamdallah in the 90+7th minute turned the tide in Al-Shabab’s favor. Yahya Al-Shehri’s opener for Riyadh in the 56th minute had initially given them the lead, but it was not enough to secure the win.
This victory marks Al-Shabab’s first league win since the arrival of new coach Fatih Terim, ending a five-match winless run and bringing them level on 26 points with Al-Ahly.
The Saudi Pro League continues to deliver a thrilling spectacle, with every match promising intensity and unpredictability. Football fans are in for a treat as the battle for glory intensifies in the coming weeks.
Key Highlights of the Matches
| Match | Key Moments | Result |
| —————————————————— | ————————————————————————————————————————————————————– | ———— |
| Al-Khuloud vs. Al-Ahly | Alex Collado’s stoppage-time goal; Merih Demiral’s red card | 1-0 |
| Al-Shabab vs. Riyadh | Daniel Podence and Abdel Razzaq Hamdallah’s goals; Yahya Al-Shehri’s opener | 2-1 |
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