Neom team succeeded in restoring the winning rhythm and achieving a valuable and well-deserved victory over their host, Al-Hazm team, with a score of 2-1, in the strong match that brought them together this evening (Sunday) on the grounds of Al-Hazm Stadium, as part of the competitions of the thirteenth round of the Saudi Professional League.
Match details and goals
The match began cautiously from both sides, but the excitement reached its peak in the second half, particularly in the final half-hour. French star Alexandre Lacazette opened the scoring for NEOM in the 59th minute, capitalizing on a rebound from Al-Hazm goalkeeper Bruno Varela to skillfully and expertly slot the ball into the net. The visitors weren't content with just one goal, as Luciano Rodriguez doubled their lead in the 88th minute, taking advantage of another error by Varela to unleash a powerful shot into the far corner.
In the final moments of stoppage time, Al-Hazm reduced the deficit through a penalty kick successfully executed by player Amir Sayoud in the (90+5) minute, after striker Nawaf Al-Habashi was fouled by Neom goalkeeper Luis Maximiano, after which the referee blew the final whistle, announcing Neom's victory.
The importance of winning and the path of both teams
This victory is of paramount importance to NEOM, as it puts the team back on track after their 1-3 loss to Al-Ittihad in the previous round. This win reflects the strong character NEOM is trying to build in the Roshan League, relying on a blend of international experience and young talent, thus confirming the team's desire to secure a comfortable mid-table position and compete for a higher ranking.
On the other hand, this setback represents a blow to Al-Hazm's ambitions, as the team had been on a steady path recently. This loss halted their run of positive results, which included wins against Al-Riyadh and Al-Kholoud, and a draw with Al-Fayha. Al-Hazm's coaching staff will have to review the individual defensive errors that cost the team points, especially given the fierce competition in the middle and bottom of the table to avoid the complexities of relegation.
The two teams' positions in the standings
With this positive result, NEOM raised their points tally to 20, jumping to seventh place in the Saudi Professional League standings and giving them a significant morale boost ahead of the upcoming rounds. Meanwhile, Al-Hazm's points remained at 13, putting them under pressure to make amends in their next matches to improve their position and secure their place in the safe zone.
