NEOM FC secured a valuable and well-deserved 1-0 victory over Al-Riyadh FC at King Khalid Sports City Stadium in Tabuk, in a match that was part of the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. NEOM owes this win to its star French striker, Alexandre Lacazette, whose decisive goal tipped the scales in his team's favor.

Match details and missed opportunities:
The first half was highly competitive, with Al-Riyadh having an early chance to take the lead and launch a surprise attack. However, Senegalese player Mamadou Sylla's shot went just wide of the post in the sixth minute. Neom's goalkeeper, Portuguese Luis Maximiano, continued his impressive performance, making a brilliant save from Frenchman Teddy Oko's shot in the 31st minute, effectively ending the danger. Neom attempted to respond before the end of the first half, with Abdulaziz Noor having a clear scoring opportunity, but his shot went wide of the post in the 40th minute, leaving the score 0-0 at halftime.

In the second half, the momentum shifted in favor of the home side, as Nyom finally broke through Al-Riyadh's defense in the 55th minute. French star Alexandre Lacazette received a perfectly weighted pass inside the penalty area and, with considerable skill and experience, expertly placed it into the far right corner of the net, past Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan, scoring the only goal of the match. Al-Riyadh attempted to equalize, with Portuguese player Leandro Antunes squandering a golden opportunity after finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Maximiano made a crucial save in the 58th minute. Antunes tried again in the 69th and 79th minutes, but luck and a lack of composure prevented him from finding the back of the net.

The importance of the win and the teams' positions in the standings
: With this result, Neom jumped to 28 points, strengthening their position in the safe zone and continuing their climb towards the top spots. This reflects the significant improvement in the team's performance and the technical work being done. Conversely, Al-Riyadh's situation worsened, as their points remained at 12, placing them in the relegation zone and increasing the pressure on the team in the upcoming rounds to avoid the threat of relegation.

Within the context of the Kingdom's sporting development,
this match comes amidst the high level of competition witnessed in the Saudi Professional League (SPL), which has become a focus of global attention thanks to attracting top international stars such as Lacazette and others. The performance of NEOM FC reflects the ambitious goals of the region's sporting project, where emerging clubs strive to deliver performances befitting the scale of sporting development in Saudi Arabia, benefiting from substantial support and state-of-the-art sports facilities such as King Khalid Sports City in Tabuk, which hosted this highly anticipated match.

2026 Asian Road Cycling Championships continue in the Qassim region , the prominent continental event that brings together the elite champions of the Asian continent on the roads of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, amidst an enthusiastic sporting atmosphere and logistical and technical organization that reflects the growing status of the Kingdom as a global destination for hosting major sporting championships.

This hosting comes within the framework of the great sporting movement that Saudi Arabia is witnessing, as the Kingdom has become the focus of the world’s attention in various sports, specifically cycling, which has witnessed remarkable growth in popularity and infrastructure, thus enhancing its presence on the international and regional map.

Kazakhstan dominates time trial races

The second day of the championship featured three crucial individual time trials, a category demanding intense concentration and immense physical strength to overcome the pressure of time. The results demonstrated the clear dominance of the Kazakh cyclists, who reaffirmed their continental supremacy in this sport.

In the women's individual time trial Anil Tashbay stole the show by winning first place and the gold medal, ahead of her rival Lu Ching-Kuo from Hong Kong who came in second, while India's Anjali Jhakar came in third, in a competition that reflected the development of the level of women's cycling in Asia.

Kazakhstan's dominance continued in the under-23 youth category , with champion Mansur Besembay the gold medal, leaving second place to Mongolian Khadbaatar, while Chinese Zhengzhou came in third, thus confirming Besembay's readiness for the new generation of Kazakh cyclists to compete globally.

At the end of the three races, Kazakhstan's Yevgeny Fedorov crowned champion, completing his country's gold medal haul, with his compatriot Nicholas Vinkerov coming in second to achieve a remarkable double, while Chih-Hao Tu of Chinese Taipei finished third.

Coronation ceremony and media attention

Following the conclusion of the competitions, the crowning ceremony for the winners was held in a festive atmosphere, where the President of the Saudi Cycling Federation, Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Shahrani, along with the Secretary-General of the Asian Cycling Federation, Mr. Kozim, honored the crowned champions and handed them the medals, praising the high technical level shown by the players.

The second day also saw a special visit from a delegation of media representatives, who were taken on a comprehensive field tour by the President of the Saudi Cycling Federation. During the tour, the delegation learned about the logistical arrangements for the teams, the players' preparations, and the high organizational standards implemented by the organizing committee to ensure the event's success.

The passion of the masses: from Al-Ula to Al-Qassim

On the other hand, a remarkable display of passion emerged on the sidelines of the championship, as a group of cycling enthusiasts, who had recently followed the Al-Ula Tour, traveled to Al-Qassim to continue their support and closely follow the Asian Championship. This deep connection to the sport led some of them to camp overnight in the desert near the race route, ensuring they were at the heart of the action from the very first moments of the second day's races. This scene reflects the growing popularity of cycling in Saudi society and the public's keen interest in its intricate details.

In a surprising development ahead of one of the most important matches of the season in the Saudi Professional League, Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, manager of Al-Nassr, took a firm stance that sparked widespread controversy in sports circles, just hours before the kickoff of the Saudi football classic between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad.

Jesus has officially decided not to attend the press conference following the team's match against Al-Ittihad, scheduled to be held at Al-Ahli Park as part of the 21st round of the league. This bold decision comes as a public and direct message of solidarity with the team's captain, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, who is going through a psychological and technical crisis that has cast a shadow over the team's preparations for this crucial match.

Sources indicate that Cristiano Ronaldo's absence from Al-Nassr's lineup for this crucial match is not solely due to physical reasons, but also stems from the intense anger the "Madeira Rocket" felt following the closure of the recent winter transfer window. The issue revolves around the transfer activity, specifically the move of French star Karim Benzema to their arch-rival and direct competitor, Al-Hilal, which Ronaldo perceived as a shift in the balance of power and a new challenge to his ambitions with Al-Nassr.

This match holds immense strategic importance, extending far beyond the three points at stake. Matches between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad have always been the pinnacle of Saudi football, known as the "Clásico," which captivates millions both locally and across the Arab world. Al-Nassr aims for nothing less than victory in this encounter, seeking to extend their winning streak and maintain pressure on league leaders Al-Hilal in this heated race for the Saudi Professional League title.

From a technical standpoint, Ronaldo's absence places additional pressure on coach Jesus and the rest of the team to compensate for the Portuguese star's attacking prowess and leadership. These events underscore the fierce competition in the Saudi League, which has become a global focal point, where major transfers and player movement between the top four clubs play a decisive role in determining the champion and directly impact team stability and the relationship between coaches and players.

In conclusion, both Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad fans are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this stormy match, and how Jesus will handle the course of the game in light of the significant absences and the strict administrative and technical decisions he has taken to protect the stability of the dressing room and show support for his star player.