Summary of the Al-Ettifaq vs. Al-Fateh match (4-3) in the Saudi Professional League
On a night of exciting football that lived up to all its promises to the Saudi fans, Al-Ettifaq Club won the "Eastern Derby" after defeating its guest and stubborn neighbor, Al-Fateh Club, by a score of 4 goals to 3, in the match that was held at Al-Ettifaq Club Stadium (Ego) as part of the competitions of the twenty-third round of the Saudi Professional League.
A fiery start and a dramatic scenario
The match was fast-paced from the opening minutes, with both sides clearly eager to secure the three points. Although Al-Fateh threatened first and scored an early goal through Marwan Saadan, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision and referee Abdullah Al-Kharboush's subsequent ruling to disallow the goal proved to be the turning point that galvanized Al-Fateh.
Al-Ettifaq came out on top with a sweeping start, with Khalid Al-Ghannam opening the scoring in the 18th minute, before the score was doubled by an own goal from Fernando Pacheco in the 23rd minute. The world star Georginio Wijnaldum continued his brilliance by adding the third goal in the 36th minute, leading everyone to think that the match was decided early on.
Al-Fateh's comeback and the excitement of the second half
Despite being three goals down, "Al-Namouthaji" did not give up, as the team showed a strong character in the final minutes of the first half, reducing the deficit with two consecutive goals through the brilliant Mourad Batna and Sofiane Ben Debka, ending the first half with a score of 3-2, leaving the fans facing a second half open to all possibilities.
As the second half began, Madallah Al-Olayan dealt a heavy blow to Al-Fateh's hopes by scoring Al-Ettifaq's fourth goal in the 48th minute. Despite Al-Fateh's desperate attempts to reduce the deficit again through Mourad Batna, who scored his second personal goal in the 71st minute, Al-Ettifaq managed to control the remaining minutes to secure a valuable victory.
Impact of the result on the rankings
This victory is of paramount importance, extending far beyond the three points; it strengthens Al-Ettifaq's position in the mid-table and brings them closer to the top four, raising their tally to 38 points and securing sixth place, while also marking their eleventh win of the season. Conversely, this loss deepens Al-Fateh's woes, leaving them stuck on 24 points in tenth place and suffering their tenth defeat, placing the coaching staff and players under immense pressure to get back on track in the upcoming rounds and ensure their survival in the safe zone.
This match confirms the high technical value of the Saudi Roshan League and the intense competitiveness between its clubs, especially in derby matches which are always characterized by rivalry and public excitement.
