In a thrilling match at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, Al-Qadisiyah FC were held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Fateh in the final match of the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. This draw cost Al-Qadisiyah two crucial points in their fierce pursuit of the top spots and the title this season.

A fiery start and a rapid exchange of goals

The match didn't give the home fans much time to settle in, as the visitors surprised the hosts with an early goal. In the eighth minute, the brilliant Argentinian Matias Vargas capitalized on a perfectly placed cross into the penalty area, expertly converting it past the Belgian international goalkeeper Koen Casteels to give Al-Fateh the lead.

However, Al-Qadisiyah's response was swift and decisive, confirming their determination not to let the match result slip away. Just five minutes later, in the 13th minute, Mexican Julian Quiñones broke free after a brilliant through ball, beating the offside trap, and unleashed a powerful and precise shot to the left of Spanish goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco, leveling the score.

Missed opportunities and brilliant goalkeeping

Following the equalizer, the match saw a series of missed opportunities, with Kenyones squandering a clear chance in the 14th minute, firing his shot over the crossbar. Despite Al-Qadisiyah's relative control of the midfield, Al-Fateh remained dangerous on the counter-attack, and Vargas nearly added a second goal, only for his powerful shot to strike the crossbar in the 28th minute. A similar scenario unfolded for Al-Qadisiyah in the 29th minute when Kenyones also missed a chance.

In the second half, Al-Qadisiyah continued their attacking pressure in search of a winning goal, and the post denied a certain goal opportunity from the Spanish defender Nacho Fernandez in the 78th minute, amidst a valiant defensive effort from Al-Fateh and a remarkable performance from goalkeeper Pacheco, who defended his goal with bravery, so that the match ended in a draw.

The two teams' positions in the standings

With this result, Al-Qadisiyah raised their points tally to 44, maintaining their fourth-place position. This result is considered a setback for the team, which has been bolstered by major international signings this season to compete for championships. Meanwhile, Al-Fateh increased their points to 24, securing tenth place, a valuable point for the team that helps them solidify their position in the safe zone of the league table.

Competition context of the Roshan League

This match comes at a time of unprecedentedly fierce competition in the Saudi League, with leading clubs striving to avoid dropping any points, especially in home games. Al-Qadisiyah's draw reflects the difficulty of the league this season, as mid-table clubs like Al-Fateh have proven their ability to upset the big teams and snatch points, thus increasing the excitement and technical and marketing strength of the competition on both regional and international levels.

Englishman Des Buckingham, manager of Al-Kholoud, expressed his immense joy at his team's important victory over Al-Shabab in their match in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. This win boosted the team's morale at a crucial stage of the competition.

In the press conference held after the end of the match, Buckingham revealed that this victory coincided with a special personal occasion, saying: "I am very happy with this victory which came on my birthday, making it a special memory. We worked with all our strength and energy during the past period and specifically during the preparation for this match, and therefore I extend my sincere thanks to all the players for their effort and sacrifices on the field.".

The English coach addressed the strategy the coaching staff is following for the upcoming phase, indicating that the work is not limited to the starting lineup but extends to preparing all team members. He explained, "We are working diligently to prepare all players to be fully ready for the remainder of the season's competitions. We are continuing the hard work we began at the start of the league, and our goal is to maintain an upward trajectory that serves the team's best interests.".

Buckingham concluded his remarks by emphasizing the team's full awareness of the set goals, noting the challenges they face in completing the training sessions with the appropriate number of players, adding: "Ultimately, we are fully aware of the goals we are striving to achieve, and we will fight to reach them.".

The importance of winning and its impact on the standings

This victory is of utmost importance to Al-Kholoud team, as the team succeeded in collecting three valuable points that raised its tally to 19 points, to occupy the fourteenth position in the Roshan League standings, equal in points with its opponent in this match, Al-Shabab team, which occupies the thirteenth position, superior only by goal difference.

This victory comes at a time when Saudi football is witnessing tremendous development and fierce competition on all fronts, with the Roshan League becoming a focus of global attention. Winning against a team of Al-Shabab's stature and history is a significant morale booster for Al-Kholoud's players, confirming the ability of a newly promoted team (or one competing in the mid-table) to challenge and even trouble the established giants. This reflects the improved technical and tactical level under Buckingham's leadership.

Technical readings indicate that the close points in the middle and lower parts of the standings will make the upcoming rounds like cup matches, as Al-Kholoud seeks to secure its position and move away from the danger zones, taking advantage of the high morale it gained from this tactical victory with a clean goal.

The Spanish coach of Al Shabab, Imanol Alguacil, expressed his great confidence in the capabilities of international defender Ali Al-Bulaihi, who recently joined the ranks of "Al-Laith" during the last winter transfer period, despite the negative result that ended the team’s match against Al-Kholoud.

Al-Ghuwasil's comments on Al-Bulaihi's performance

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Alguacil defended his new defender, emphasizing that Al-Bulaihi possesses a wealth of experience and an exceptional ability to read the game – qualities not easily found on the pitch. The Spanish coach explained that what Al-Bulaihi currently needs is more playing time to regain his full technical and physical fitness and deliver the best version of himself that Saudi fans have come to expect.

The scenario of the match of eternity and the disallowed goal

The match saw Ali Al-Bulaihi make a strong attempt to make an immediate impact with his new team, and he did manage to score a goal for Al-Shabab. However, his joy was short-lived as the referee intervened and disallowed the goal. Despite the loss, Al-Shabab's coach emphasized that signing Al-Bulaihi was a "great acquisition" for the team, describing him as a top player who will add a lot to the dressing room and the team's defense in upcoming matches.

A distinguished career and international experience

Al-Ghuwasil's praise stems from Ali Al-Bulaihi's illustrious career in Saudi football. The player, who joined from Al-Hilal, boasts a long history of local and continental achievements and championships, in addition to his extensive international experience with the Saudi national team, where he was a key player in the Green Falcons' participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This accumulated experience is what Al-Shabab's coaching staff is relying on to fine-tune the defense and guide the young players on the pitch.

Deal details and future prospects

It is worth noting that Al-Shabab's management officially announced the signing of Ali Al-Bulaihi on loan from their Riyadh rivals, Al-Hilal, extending his contract with the "Sheikh of Clubs" until the end of the current 2025/2026 season. Al-Shabab fans hope that Al-Bulaihi will successfully instill his winning mentality and fighting spirit, for which he is known, in his new teammates, contributing to improving the team's position in the league standings and competing strongly in the remaining matches of the season.