The technical director of Al-Taawoun Club, the Brazilian Pericles Chamusca, attributed the reasons for his team’s loss by one goal to Al-Nasr Club, in the strong match that brought them together on the grounds of “Al-Awwal Park” in the capital, Riyadh, as part of the competitions of the eighteenth round of the Saudi Professional League, to the absence of a number of key influential players, in addition to small details that decided the result of the match.
Technical and tactical analysis of the confrontation
During the post-match press conference, Chamusca explained his tactical analysis of the game, stating, "Al-Nassr's lone goal wasn't the result of a well-organized tactical attack, but rather an unintentional individual error by one of my players." The Brazilian coach indicated that he sought to rectify the situation and adjust the team's style of play after 60 minutes, shifting to a more attacking approach to increase possession and attempt to equalize, while simultaneously working to contain the opponent's potent attack.
Shamouska added with a tone full of pride: “Despite the huge differences in budget and market value between the two teams, I am extremely proud of what Al-Taawoun players have done. They were able to balance the scales and keep up with a star-studded and complete team like Al-Nasr.”.
The context of the competition and the development of the Saudi League
Shamouska's statements come at a time when the Saudi Professional League is undergoing a historic transformation and a qualitative leap in terms of attracting international talent, which has widened the financial and technical gap between clubs owned by the Public Investment Fund and the rest of the league's clubs. Al-Taawoun, nicknamed "The Sugar of Qassim," deserves credit for its continued ability to compete with the top teams and remain in contention for Asian championship qualification spots, relying on its high level of tactical organization and team spirit, as clearly demonstrated in its competitive performance against Al-Nassr despite the loss.
Criticism of refereeing and scheduling pressure
Despite his general praise for the refereeing team, Chamusca expressed strong dissatisfaction with the added time, asserting that the match witnessed numerous lengthy stoppages that warranted more than the four minutes of extra time awarded. The coach also addressed the significant physical challenge facing the team, complaining about the congested fixture schedule (a match every three days), which has largely limited the coaching staff's role to recovery and mental preparation rather than intensive tactical training.
Goal details and the impact of the result on the standings
The only goal of the match was an own goal by Al-Taawoun's Mohammed Al-Dossari in the 45th minute, following intense attacking pressure from Al-Nassr. This result has a direct impact on the title race; Al-Nassr increased their points tally to 40, strengthening their hold on second place and continuing their pursuit of league leaders Al-Hilal, while Al-Taawoun's points remained at 35, dropping them to fifth place, thus intensifying the battle for a top-four finish in the upcoming rounds.
In closing, Shamouska addressed a message of reassurance to Al-Taawoun fans, stressing that the team possesses a strong professional mentality and is capable of quickly overcoming this setback and returning to winning ways, emphasizing the continued work to overcome the effects of fatigue and injuries.
