English Premier League
Al Kholood stun Al Ahli with late double to claim dramatic Saudi Pro League win
Al Kholood produced a remarkable late fightback to beat Al Ahli 3-1 on Saturday, scoring twice in the closing stages to secure one of the biggest surprises of the Saudi Pro League season so far.
The home side led through Iker Kortajarena’s first-half goal, but Al Ahli appeared to have recovered when Ivan Toney equalised in the 66th minute. Julian Dominguez restored Al Kholood’s advantage five minutes from time before Mohamed Soaan completed the victory in the second minute of stoppage time.
The result lifts Al Kholood to third in the Saudi Pro League table with eight points after four rounds. Al Ahli, who had been hoping to build on their strong squad, drop to sixth with six points.
The match began with a major refereeing decision. In the fourth minute, referee Shukri Al-Hanfoush reviewed Al Ahli’s appeal for a penalty using the video assistant referee system, but ultimately decided not to award a spot-kick.
Play was stopped three minutes later because of an injury to Trincao. After the restart, Al Ahli created the first sustained pressure, with Artem Bondarenko seeing an effort from outside the area blocked in the 11th minute. Bondarenko then missed another opportunity in the 23rd minute, shooting over after being found by Toney.
Following a drinks break in the 24th minute, Al Kholood began to threaten more regularly. Their pressure paid off eight minutes later when Koba da Costa played the ball into the penalty area for Kortajarena. The midfielder finished with his left foot into the bottom-right corner to put the hosts ahead.
Al Ahli tried to respond before half-time. Trincao had a shot blocked in the 36th minute, while Toney’s header drifted wide during the third minute of added time. Al Kholood therefore went into the interval with a 1-0 lead.
Al Ahli manager|||| removed Ryan Hamid at half-time, bringing on Mohammed Abdulrahman as his team looked to increase the intensity. The visitors won a corner in the 50th minute, while Trincao sent an effort wide from outside the area in the 64th minute.
Two further Al Ahli substitutions followed in the same minute, with Saleh Abu Al Shamat replacing Firas Al-Buraikan and Zakaria Al-Hawsawi coming on for Saad Yslam. Their pressure soon produced an equaliser.
Eduard Spertsyan supplied the pass for Toney in the 66th minute, and the England striker finished with his right foot from the right side of the penalty area, sending the ball into the middle of the goal.
Al Ahli then pushed for a second. Abu Al Shamat headed wide from inside the area after a cross by Trincao in the 68th minute, while Spertsyan sent a left-footed effort narrowly past the post.
Al Kholood refused to settle for defending the draw. Abdulrahman Al-Dosari replaced Kortajarena in the 73rd minute, while Mohamed Soaan came on for Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa five minutes later.
Al Ahli continued to look dangerous, with Spertsyan delivering a corner in the 83rd minute. However, Al Kholood’s defence dealt with Roger Ibanez’s header before blocking another Bondarenko attempt inside the area a minute later.
Against the run of play, Al Kholood struck again in the 85th minute. Ramzi Solan found Julian Dominguez, who converted from close range to restore the hosts’ lead at 2-1.
Al Ahli introduced Abdullah Al-Radif for Bondarenko in the 87th minute and pressed hard during stoppage time. Al-Radif headed just wide in the 90th minute, then saw another header saved by Hamed Al-Shanqiti a minute later. Spertsyan also missed the target with a shot from distance.
Al Kholood finally put the result beyond doubt in the second minute of added time. Koba da Costa set up Mohamed Soaan, who struck a left-footed effort from outside the box into the bottom-right corner.
The goal completed a dramatic 3-1 victory for the team from Ar Rass and secured their first major upset against one of the Saudi Pro League’s leading clubs this season.
