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 executive director of Al-Khaleej Club, confirmed that there are official negotiations by Al-Hilal Club to sign Norwegian striker Joshua King during the current winter transfer period, indicating that the coming hours will be crucial in determining the player’s future with the team.

In a televised statement on the “Thamania” channel, Al-Kahl said: “We received an official offer from Al-Hilal to sign Joshua King. We responded to the offer, and a final and decisive decision regarding this deal will be made in the coming hours.” He added that “the financial aspects of the deal are very attractive,” which presents the club's management with an important strategic decision.

The context of the deal in the Saudi Roshan League

These negotiations come amidst an active winter transfer window in the Saudi Professional League, which has become a magnet for many international football stars. Al-Hilal, the league leaders, are looking to bolster their squad to maintain their domestic dominance and compete strongly for the AFC Champions League title. The interest in King stems from Al-Hilal's desire to find effective attacking options, especially given the absence of their Brazilian star, Neymar da Silva, due to injury.

Joshua King's importance and international experience

Joshua King, with his extensive Premier League experience at clubs like Bournemouth and Watford, would be a valuable addition to any team. His versatility in playing multiple attacking positions, combined with his pace and goal-scoring prowess, makes him a highly sought-after target. His potential move to Al-Hilal would bolster the team's attacking depth alongside players like Aleksandar Mitrovic and Malcom, giving manager Jorge Jesus more tactical options.

Expected impact on Al-Khaleej Club

On the other hand, Al-Khaleej Club faces a difficult situation. While the financial offer represents an opportunity to bolster the club's budget, King's departure will leave a significant void in the team's attack as they strive to improve their position in the league standings. Al-Kahl indicated that the club, at the request of Greek coach Giorgos Donis, is looking to strengthen its squad with more than one signing during the winter transfer window, and the proceeds from King's sale could contribute to financing these new acquisitions.

The final decision remains pending, as fans of both clubs and followers of the Roshan League await the outcome of the next few hours in a deal that could reshape the attacking strength in the Saudi League.