In a crucial match at Al Majma'ah Sports City Stadium, Al Fayha secured a valuable and well-deserved 3-1 victory over Al Khaleej in the 19th round of the Saudi Professional League. This win was more than just three points for the "Orange" team; it provided a significant morale boost in their fight to avoid relegation.

Background of the confrontation and its importance in the context of the league

The Saudi Professional League, which has garnered global attention thanks to its attraction of international stars, enters a crucial phase with the start of the second half of the season. Every match takes on added importance, especially for mid-table teams like Al-Fayha and Al-Khaleej, who are striving to secure their positions and avoid the complexities of relegation. Before this match, both teams were aiming to improve their standings; Al-Fayha desperately needed points to escape the bottom of the table, while Al-Khaleej sought to solidify their position in the safe zone and move closer to the top spots.

A fiery first half that Al-Fayha won with three goals

Al-Fayha started the match with clear strength and determination, imposing their control on the game from the opening minutes. This pressure translated into an early goal in the 18th minute, an own goal when Al-Khaleej defender Hussein Al-Sultan attempted to clear a dangerous cross but inadvertently put it into his own net. The home side didn't stop there, continuing their organized attack. In the 38th minute, veteran English defender Chris Smalling, formerly of Manchester United and Roma, added a second goal with a well-placed header from a cross, highlighting the value of international experience in the league. Three minutes before the end of the first half, the speedy Zambian star Fashion Sakala delivered the final blow to Al-Khaleej's hopes in this half. He embarked on a brilliant individual run down the left flank, dribbling past several defenders before unleashing a powerful shot that nestled into the bottom left corner of goalkeeper Anthony Morris's net, ending the first half with Al-Fayha leading comfortably 3-0.

Gulf attempts to salvage the situation and Mosquera's brilliance

In the second half, Al-Khaleej came out determined to reduce the deficit and get back into the game. They intensified their attacking efforts, and a dangerous opportunity arose in the 65th minute when Spaniard Paulo Fernandez fired a shot, but the brilliant Panamanian goalkeeper, Luis Mosquera, was equal to the task. Al-Khaleej continued to press until they finally scored their only goal in the 80th minute through their Greek player, Giorgos Masouras, who received the ball inside the penalty area and cleverly slotted it past the goalkeeper to his right. Just a minute later, Fernandez almost added a second goal, but Mosquera's brilliance prevented it, preserving his team's lead and securing the three points.

Impact of the result on the standings table

With this crucial victory, Al-Fayha raised their points tally to 20, taking a significant step towards safety and distancing themselves from the relegation battle. Meanwhile, Al-Khaleej's points remained at 25, missing an opportunity to climb the standings and remaining in the middle of the table. This win underscores the importance of thorough preparation and capitalizing on opportunities in a league where only results matter, and it places added pressure on Al-Khaleej to get back on track in the upcoming rounds.

In an exceptional football match at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, Al-Ahli secured a resounding and well-deserved 4-0 in the 19th round of the Saudi Professional League. The match witnessed a remarkable performance from English striker Ivan Tony , who scored a hat-trick to lead his team to three valuable points.

This match comes amidst a historic season for the Saudi Professional League, which has attracted a host of international football stars, raising the level of competition and media and fan interest. Al-Ahli, making a strong return to the top flight, aims to secure a top-four finish and compete for titles, relying on a constellation of stars such as Algerian Riyad Mahrez and Senegalese Edouard Mendy. Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq aspires to improve its position in the standings and deliver a performance worthy of its history.

Al Ahli started the match with a clear attacking impetus, translating their dominance into an early goal in the 17th minute. After a quick run down the right flank by star player Riyad Mahrez , he delivered a perfect cross that found Ivan Toni, who made no mistake in putting it into the net with a first-time shot to the right of goalkeeper Marek Rodak. Al Ittifaq almost equalized quickly, but goalkeeper Edouard Mendy made a brilliant save from a dangerous shot by Mukhtar Ali in the 23rd minute. Four minutes later, Al Ahli were awarded a penalty, which Toni, the penalty specialist, confidently converted in the 27th minute to make it 2-0.

In the second half, Al Ahly continued their dominance, adding a third goal in the 64th minute through Frenchman Valentin Atangana , who received a decisive pass from the outstanding Tony and powerfully struck the ball into the net. Six minutes before the final whistle, Tony returned to complete the rout from the penalty spot in the 84th minute, scoring his third goal of the match and his team's fourth.

With this victory, Al-Ahli raised their points tally to 43 , strengthening their position among the top teams and continuing to put pressure on the league leaders. Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq's points remained at 29. Individually, Ivan Toni took sole possession of the top spot in the league's scoring charts with 19 goals , confirming his status as one of the league's standout signings this season and establishing himself as a strong contender for the Golden Boot award.

Mohammed Al-Kahl, the CEO of Al-Khaleej FC, has sparked interest among Saudi sports fans with his recent statements revealing details of serious negotiations by Al-Hilal FC to sign Norwegian striker Joshua King during the current winter transfer window. This move comes as Al-Hilal, the current leaders of the Saudi Professional League, seek to strengthen their squad and maintain their dominance in various domestic and continental competitions.

Details of Al-Hilal's offer and the anticipated decision

In his statements to the “Thamania” channel, Al-Kahl confirmed that his club's management had received an official offer from Al-Hilal to sign King. He said: “An offer was submitted by Al-Hilal to sign Joshua King during the current winter transfer window, and we have responded to the offer. A final decision regarding the signing of the player will be made in the coming hours.”.

The Gulf CEO did not hide the lucrative financial aspect of the offer, adding: “The financial terms of the Joshua King deal are very attractive, and the next few hours will see an official decision from club officials regarding Joshua King.” These statements indicate that the deal may be in its final stages, and that the decision hinges on balancing the significant financial gain for the club with the technical impact of losing one of its key players.

General context: Al-Hilal's ambition and a heated Saudi transfer market

These negotiations come amidst an exceptional season for the Saudi Professional League, which has become a destination for some of the world's biggest football stars. Al-Hilal, already boasting a constellation of stars, is looking to further deepen its squad to cope with the demanding schedule of the Saudi Professional League, the King's Cup, and the AFC Champions League. Joshua King, with his extensive experience in the English Premier League with clubs such as Bournemouth and Watford, is seen as a strong attacking option that could provide additional solutions for manager Jorge Jesus.

The importance of the deal and its expected impact

Domestically, King's move to Al-Hilal will significantly bolster the "Leaders'" attacking prowess, while Al-Khaleej will face the challenge of replacing their main striker. However, the substantial financial return could enable Al-Khaleej's management, at the behest of coach Giorgos Donis, to make several signings to strengthen the squad in various positions, potentially benefiting the team in the long run. Regionally and internationally, this deal, if finalized, underscores the growing appeal of the Saudi league and its ability to attract players from major European leagues, further solidifying its position as one of the most competitive leagues on the global stage.