secured Al-Ahli Saudi FC a resounding and well-deserved 3-0 victory over their guests, Damac FC, in a hard-fought match at the Emirate Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah. This exciting encounter, part of the 27th round of the Saudi Professional League, confirmed Al-Ahli's readiness to compete fiercely in the final stages of the competition, considered the strongest in the Middle East.
A fiery start and early goals for Al Ahly
The opening whistle saw intense attacking pressure from Al-Ahli players, which unsettled Damac's defense from the opening minutes. The home side didn't waste any time converting this dominance into goals, with the first goal coming in the third minute – an own goal. The goal came after a perfectly placed cross from Galeno, which was expertly controlled by English striker Ivan Tony, only for the ball to deflect off Damac defender Dhari Al-Anzi and into the net.
Al-Ahly did not stop there, but continued its sweeping attack to add the second goal in the sixth minute in almost the same scenario, as Galino sent a decisive low cross pass, which found Ivan Toni in the right place to confidently put it into the goal, giving his team a great comfort very early in the match.
Second half events and securing the result
At the start of the second half, Damac tried to get back into the game, but Al-Ahli's tactical organization prevented them from doing so. In the 56th minute, through a well-organized and calculated attack, Ivan Toni passed the ball to his teammate Matheus Gonçalves, who unleashed a powerful shot that deflected off Damac defender Abdulrahman Al-Khaibri before finding the back of the net, scoring Al-Ahli's third goal.
On the other hand, Al-Ahly's coaching staff received a painful blow when the solid Brazilian defender Roger Ibanez suffered an injury that forced him to leave the field, so Mohamed Bakr participated as his replacement in order to maintain the defensive balance until the referee blew the final whistle.
Saudi Roshan League standings after the match
With this positive result, Al-Ahli continued their strong run, securing their twentieth league victory this season. The team raised their points tally to 65, consolidating their third-place position and steadily closing in on second-placed Al-Nassr, thus intensifying the competition for the top spots. Conversely, this result compounded the woes of Damac, who suffered their thirteenth defeat of the season, leaving them stuck on 22 points in fifteenth place and under immense pressure to avoid relegation.
The importance of winning in the context of local and continental competition
This victory holds immense importance for Al-Ahli, not only for securing the three points but also within the context of the ambitious sporting project underway in the Saudi Professional League. Historically, Al-Ahli is one of the four major clubs in Saudi football, and its return to contention for top positions reflects the success of the club's strategy in attracting international stars. Domestically, this win ensures Al-Ahli remains in the spotlight and closes the gap with Al-Nassr. Regionally and continentally, securing a top-four finish is essential to guaranteeing participation in the AFC Champions League next season, the most important strategic objective for the club's management and its vast fan base.
