The exciting match between Al-Riyadh and their guest Al-Khaleej ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh, as part of the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League.

First half details and Al-Riyadh's lead

The first half saw a slight advantage for the home side, Al-Riyadh, who entered the match with a clear desire to secure all three points. Despite this strong start, Al-Khaleej came close to opening the scoring early, specifically in the ninth minute, when Spaniard Paulo Fernandez unleashed a powerful shot, but Al-Riyadh's Canadian goalkeeper, Milan Borjan, made a brilliant save.

Riyadh responded with a series of dangerous attacks, with Portuguese player António Tozé squandering a clear opportunity in the 21st minute after his cross went just wide of the post. Riyadh continued to press, and Leandro Antunes almost scored in the 37th minute, but Luxembourg's goalkeeper, Anthony Moris, made a brilliant save to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. In the dying moments of the first half, specifically in the 45th minute, Leandro Antunes capitalized on his team's dominance, scoring the opening goal with a perfectly placed header that nestled into the net to Moris's right.

Al-Khaleej's comeback in the second half

At the start of the second half, Al-Khaleej tried to recover and get back into the game, and they had a dangerous opportunity in the 50th minute through Hussein Al-Essa, but his shot went just wide of the post. Meanwhile, Al-Riyadh almost sealed the victory with a second goal in the 63rd minute through Ahmed Al-Sayahi's header, which narrowly missed the target.

After continuous attempts to break through Al-Riyadh's defense, Greek star Konstantinos Fortounis managed to save his team and equalize in the dying moments at the 83rd minute, with a perfectly executed rocket shot from outside the penalty area that settled to the right of goalkeeper Borian, ending the match with a shared point.

The two teams' positions in the standings

With this result, Al-Riyadh raised their points tally to 13, remaining in the relegation zone in 16th place, putting them under significant pressure in the upcoming rounds to avoid the drop. Meanwhile, Al-Khaleej increased their points to 27, strengthening their position in the middle of the table in ninth place, reflecting a relative stability in the team's performance compared to their opponents.

The importance of the point and the struggle for survival

This match takes on particular importance given the overall context of the Roshan League competition this season, where the relegation battle is fierce among several clubs. A draw for Al-Riyadh might not be enough to satisfy their fans' ambitions of moving away from the relegation zone, but it does ensure they avoid defeat against a tough opponent. As for Al-Khaleej, securing a point away from home, especially after conceding a goal, confirms the strong character the team has developed thanks to quality signings and the outstanding performances of their professional players, such as Fortounis, who proves match after match that he is a key pillar of the squad.

Veteran Greek star Konstantinos Fortounis continued his exceptional performances for Al-Khaleej, cementing his status as one of the top foreign players in the Saudi Professional League this season. This came after he rescued his team from a certain defeat against hosts Al-Riyadh, scoring a crucial goal in the match played on Saturday as part of the 22nd round of the competition.

Fortune's impact amidst fierce competition

The importance of this goal stems from the intense competition in the Saudi League, where every point makes a crucial difference in the standings, whether for teams vying for Asian Champions League spots or those striving to secure their mid-table positions. As usual, Fortounis rose to the occasion, playing the role of savior, scoring Al-Khaleej's equalizer at a critical moment, once again demonstrating his considerable technical ability and influential leadership role in guiding the team throughout the current season (2025-2026).

The language of numbers: Dominating the gaming industry

The impact of the Greek player cannot be discussed without considering the statistics that clearly reflect his efforts. According to the official statistics for this season, Fortounis' numbers demonstrate the extent to which Al-Dana relies on his services. He participated in 18 matches, contributing to 19 goals, scoring 8 and providing 11 assists.

With these amazing numbers, Fortunis tops the list of players with the most assists in the Roshen League for the 2025-2026 season, surpassing many of the league's big international names, making him an indispensable cornerstone of the coach's lineup.

Technical leadership and tactical vision

Beyond his direct goals, Fortunys' influence extends to the tactical side as a technical leader on the pitch. He possesses keen vision and enviable composure in building attacks from the back, in addition to his exceptional ability to change the tempo of a match with a single touch, whether through his pinpoint set pieces, his incisive through balls that break down defenses, or even his surprise shots from outside the box.

Reflecting the brilliance on the Gulf's journey

It has become clear to observers and critics that Al-Khaleej Club is relying heavily this season on the magical touches of its Greek star, who has become a barometer of the team's performance; his mental presence often translates into a positive result for Al-Dana. With his recent goal against Al-Riyadh, Fortounis sent a new message that the "Magician of Al-Khaleej" is always there to rescue the team in difficult times, continuing to write a remarkable success story in Saudi football, amidst growing praise from fans who consider him one of the most successful signings in the club's modern history.

The technical staff of Al-Hilal's first football team, led by Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, made an important technical decision aimed at maintaining the players' physical and mental fitness by granting the squad a day off from group training on Saturday. This decision comes as part of the recovery strategy implemented by the Italian coach to ensure the players are in peak condition. The team will resume training on Sunday evening to begin preparations for their upcoming match against Al-Wahda of the UAE.

This decision came after the team's outstanding performance on Friday evening, where Al-Hilal secured a valuable and well-deserved 2-0 victory over their guests, Al-Ettifaq, in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. This win not only strengthened the team's position in the domestic league standings but also gave the players a significant morale boost before their return to continental competition, highlighting the excellent tactical work being done by Inzaghi in balancing the various tournaments.

In preparation for the continental clash, the coaching staff is now fully focused on hosting Al Wahda of the UAE in a match scheduled for 9:15 PM next Monday. This match is of particular importance as it concludes the group stage of the AFC Champions League, where Al Hilal aims to reaffirm its continental dominance and finish the stage in the best possible way in front of its large fan base.

In terms of the numerical standings and the teams' positions in the group, Al-Hilal enters the match sitting atop their group in the AFC Champions League with 19 points, a tally that reflects the team's formidable strength this season under the leadership of Inzaghi. Meanwhile, Al-Wahda of the UAE occupies fourth place with 14 points, making this match an opportunity for Al-Hilal to widen the points gap and send a strong message to their remaining competitors in the upcoming knockout stages.

These matches carry a special significance that transcends mere three points, representing a part of the exciting rivalry between Gulf and Asian football. Al-Hilal's coaching staff understands that maintaining a winning streak, even in matches that seem inconsequential in terms of qualification, is key to remaining competitive for all available titles. This explains Inzaghi's decision to give the players a short rest day today to recharge their energy before the Asian clash.