Summary of the Al-Shabab vs. Damac match: Al-Shabab wins 3-1 in the Roshan League
Al-Shabab achieved a valuable and well-deserved victory in their first appearance under their new coach, Noureddine Zekri, as they managed to defeat their host, Damac, by three goals to one, in the exciting match that took place at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Al-Mahala, as part of the twenty-third round of the Saudi Professional League.
A fiery start and an early goal-scoring mark
The match began with a clear attacking intent from Al-Shabab, who translated their dominance into an early goal in the 18th minute. The goal came courtesy of striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, who received a perfectly placed header from teammate Josh Brownhill, skillfully maneuvering past the Damac defense before firing a low, driven shot into the net. Despite Al-Shabab's lead, Damac displayed resilience and quickly clawed their way back into the game. A clever pass from Sampaio found Valentin Vada, who unleashed a powerful low shot that found the back of the net, leveling the score in the 30th minute. Hamdallah almost added a second goal before halftime, but VAR intervened to disallow the goal, leaving the score level at 1-1 at the break.
Carrasco shone and decided the match
In the second half, Al Shabab imposed their style of play, exploiting the spaces in their opponent's defense. In the 58th minute, thanks to a brilliant assist from Yannick Carrasco, Saad Al-Abaid unleashed a powerful shot that found the back of the net, giving the visitors their second goal. Carrasco continued his impressive performance, adding his name to the scoresheet with a thunderous strike in the 84th minute, sealing the victory for Al Shabab with a decisive 3-1 win.
The importance of winning and the context of the competition
This victory holds special significance for Al-Shabab, not only because of the three points, but also because it marks the beginning of a new era for coach Noureddine Zekri, known for his fighting spirit and ability to motivate his players. Matches played at the Al-Mahala Stadium in Abha are considered among the toughest tests for visiting teams due to the high altitude, making a win there a testament to the team's physical and mental readiness.
The two teams' positions in the standings
With this positive result, Al-Shabab raised their points tally to 22, climbing to thirteenth place, a significant step towards distancing themselves from the relegation zone and improving their position in the fiercely competitive Roshan League standings this season. Conversely, Damac's situation worsened after suffering their eleventh defeat, leaving them stuck on 15 points in sixteenth place, placing them under considerable pressure in the upcoming rounds to turn things around.
