Connect with us

Sports

El Maestro leads Al Najma to their first Roshan League win and revives their survival hopes

Nestor El Maestro succeeds in his first test with Al Najma and achieves a valuable victory over Al Khulood with a score of 2-1, breaking the series of negative results and reviving hopes of staying in the Roshan League.

Published

on

Nestor El Maestro, coach of the star

Serbian-British coach Nestor El Maestro made a dramatic and exciting return to Saudi Arabian football, erasing his last negative memory in the Saudi Professional League and replacing it with a valuable victory that revived Al-Najma's spirits. In his first official test at the helm of the team, El Maestro achieved what his predecessor had failed to do all season, securing the team's first win in the 22nd round.

Al-Najma's management acted swiftly to salvage the team's season, signing El Maestro as a strategic emergency measure to try and lift the club from the bottom of the standings and avert the looming threat of relegation. This decision came after terminating the contract with Portuguese coach Mario Silva, under whose leadership the team suffered from a lack of goals and a string of disappointing results.

Returning to the language of numbers, which doesn't lie, Al-Najma endured 20 disastrous matches this season under Silva's leadership, failing to taste victory in any of them, managing only 5 draws and suffering 15 defeats. However, the arrival of El Maestro was the positive shock the players needed, as he led them to a 2-1 victory over Al-Kholoud, the same scoreline by which he lost his last match with his former team, Al-Taawoun, against Al-Hilal in the 2021/22 season. It was as if fate wanted to give him a chance for redemption, using the same scenario but in his favor this time.

This match holds immense importance, far exceeding the mere three points; it represents a tremendous morale boost at a critical juncture in the season. Although the victory only raised Al-Najma's tally to eight points, keeping them at the bottom of the table, it shattered the players' fear and defeatist mentality. This marks the first step in a "great escape," as the 42-year-old coach now faces a daunting task to close the points gap with their rivals in the safer position.

Historically, El Maestro is known for his strong personality and intense passion on the touchline, qualities the team desperately needs in their fight for survival. This strong start confirms that the coaching change can pay off if combined with hard work and a fighting spirit, making the upcoming rounds crucial in determining the team's fate in the Roshan Professional League for the 2025/26 season.

The Saudi News Network first launched on Twitter via its official account, @SaudiNews50, and quickly became one of the Kingdom's leading independent news sources, thanks to its fast and reliable coverage of major local and international events. Due to the growing trust of its followers, the network expanded by launching its website, a comprehensive news platform offering regularly updated content in the fields of politics, economics, health, education, and national events, presented in a professional style that meets the public's expectations. The network strives to enhance public awareness and provide accurate information in a timely manner through on-the-ground reporting, in-depth analysis, and a specialized editorial team, making it a trusted source for anyone seeking up-to-the-minute Saudi news.

Sports

Yellow League: Al-Batin snatches a dramatic victory from Jeddah in round 22

Al-Batin secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Jeddah in matchday 22 of the Yellow League. Youssef Mshungama scored a dramatic late winner in the 90+1 minute to keep Al-Batin's survival hopes alive.

Published

on

Al-Batin vs. Jeddah match in the Yellow League

In a match that was exciting and competitive until its last moments, the first football team of Al-Batin Club succeeded in snatching a precious and decisive victory against its counterpart, the Jeddah team, in the match that brought them together on Saturday evening, as part of the competitions of the twenty-second round (22) of the Yellow League for Saudi First Division Clubs, with the match ending with a score of two goals to one.

The match began with both the home and away teams clearly eager to secure the three points. However, Al-Batin held a slight advantage in the first half, translating their dominance into an early goal in the 20th minute through their star player, Abdullah Diaby. Al-Batin maintained this lead thanks to a well-organized defense, ending the first half with the visitors ahead by a single goal, despite some timid attempts by Jeddah to get back into the game.

As the second half began, Jeddah FC entered with clear attacking intentions to level the score, which they achieved in the 60th minute through Mohammed Al-Saiari, bringing the game back to square one. The back-and-forth continued as both teams awaited a draw, but the unpredictable nature of football had other plans. Star player Youssef Mshungama snatched a precious winning goal for Al-Batin in stoppage time, specifically in the 90+1 minute, giving his team a lifeline at a crucial juncture in the league.

This result is of paramount importance in the context of the fierce relegation battle in the Yellow League this season. With this victory, Al-Batin raised their points tally to 11, and despite remaining in 17th place (second to last), this win represents a tremendous morale boost for the Sky Blues in their quest to escape the specter of relegation to the second division, especially given the team's good history and previous presence in the professional league, making their current situation unsatisfactory for their fans.

On the other hand, Jeddah's points tally remained frozen at 27, placing them eleventh in the standings. This match underscores the intense competition in the Yellow League for First Division clubs, where there are no easy games and possibilities remain open until the final whistle. This reflects the significant development of Saudi football at all levels, with the First Division becoming a focus of close attention due to the fierce competition and the similar skill levels of the clubs.

Continue Reading

Sports

Harry Kane leads Bayern Munich to a 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen

Harry Kane shone and scored a brace to lead Bayern Munich to a 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, strengthening the Bavarians' lead and distancing themselves from Dortmund.

Published

on

Harry Kane leads Bayern Munich to victory

English star Harry Kane continued to make history in German stadiums, delivering an exceptional performance that led his team Bayern Munich to a resounding and well-deserved victory over their host Werder Bremen by three goals to nil, in the match that brought them together on Saturday as part of the twenty-second round of the German Football League (Bundesliga).

The details of the match and Kane's brilliance
meant the Bavarian giants didn't give their opponents much time to settle. Harry Kane opened the scoring in the 22nd minute from a penalty awarded after a VAR review following a foul on the promising Lennart Karl. Just three minutes later, "Prince Harry" doubled the lead with a low shot that struck the post and nestled into the net, cementing his dominance at the top of the league's scoring charts with 26 goals and bringing his total goals in all competitions this season to 41.

In the second half, despite veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer leaving due to a recurrence of a calf injury, Bayern maintained their balance, with international Leon Goretzka completing the team's hat-trick in the 70th minute, benefiting from a pass from substitute Alphonso Davies.

The importance of the win and the title race
: This victory is of paramount importance to Bayern Munich, as it marks their second consecutive win after the Augsburg setback, bringing their points tally to 57. With this win, the Bavarians have restored their six-point lead over their closest rival and traditional adversary, Borussia Dortmund, who had put pressure on the team with their 4-0 victory over Mainz. This win strengthens Bayern's chances of retaining their beloved title and sends a strong message to their rivals about the team's technical and mental stability in the crucial stages of the season.

Werder Bremen's crisis deepens
. On the other hand, Werder Bremen is experiencing one of its most difficult periods, with its points tally stuck at 19 in 16th place, a position that threatens to force a relegation playoff. This is the second consecutive defeat for new coach Daniel Theon, putting the once-great club under immense pressure to avoid relegation, especially since it hasn't tasted victory since last November.

other matches
, Hoffenheim continued their strong performances with a 3-0 victory over Freiburg, consolidating their third-place position and bringing them closer to their Champions League dream. Bayer Leverkusen also bounced back with a resounding 4-0 win against St. Pauli, climbing to fourth place and intensifying the battle for European qualification.

Continue Reading

Sports

Al-Najma achieves its first victory in the Roshan League with a brace against Al-Kholoud

Al-Najma achieved their first-ever victory in the Saudi Professional League, defeating Al-Kholoud 2-1 in matchday 22. Find out the details of the goals and the teams' standings in the relegation battle.

Published

on

Al-Najma team achieves its first victory

On a night of football that fans of Unaizah will never forget, Al-Najma FC etched its name in the annals of the Saudi Professional League, securing its first-ever victory in the competition this season. This precious win came against Al-Kholoud FC with a score of 2-1, in a match held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah on Saturday evening, as part of the 22nd round of the tournament.

Match details and goals

The match was thrilling, with Al-Najma capitalizing on their opportunities effectively despite the visitors' relative control of the midfield at times. Brazilian Felipe Cardoso opened the scoring for Al-Najma in the 21st minute after a brilliant run that saw him face Argentinian goalkeeper Juan Cusani and expertly slot the ball into the net. In the second half, French star Bilal Boutouba extended the home side's lead with a powerful shot in the 56th minute, giving his team a comfortable advantage.

For its part, Al-Khulood tried to get back into the game, and Spaniard Iker Kortajarena almost reduced the deficit were it not for the brilliance of Al-Najma's Brazilian goalkeeper Victor Braga, who saved a certain goal in the 63rd minute. Al-Khulood's only goal came late in the 90+2 minute through a penalty kick executed by Argentinian Ramiro Henrique, ending the match with a long-awaited victory for Al-Najma.

The importance of winning and the context of the competition

This victory is of paramount importance, far exceeding the mere three points; it comes after a long 21-round winless streak that placed immense pressure on the players and coaching staff. This triumph represents a significant morale boost and could prove to be a turning point for the team in the remaining matches of the season, as Al-Najma strives to cling to its hopes of remaining in the top flight amidst fierce competition.

In the league standings, Al-Najma's victory raised their points tally to 8, and despite remaining in last place, narrowing the points gap is a crucial first step in their long journey to escape relegation. Meanwhile, Al-Kholoud's points remained at 19, leaving them in thirteenth place and intensifying the relegation battle in the Roshan League, which is witnessing unprecedented competition this season due to the strength of the participating clubs and the presence of international stars.

Continue Reading

Trending News