DAMMAM: Big games in the Saudi Pro League rarely lack entertainment, and the latest chapter was no exception as Al-Qadsiah hosted Al-Ahli at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
After trailing 2-0 at the break, the hosts rallied in the second half to produce a stunning comeback and win 3-2, announcing themselves as serious title contenders.
That was far from the case after the opening 45 minutes, however, with pundits and fans alike beginning to write off Al-Qadsiah’s title hopes following an abysmal start.
While Brendan Rodgers set his side up in their traditional 3-5-2 formation, Matthias Jaissle opted for a more unorthodox approach.
Enzo Millot was benched as Al-Ahli lined up in a 3-4-3. Ivan Toney and Riyad Mahrez flanked Feras Al-Brikan, whose primary task was to keep tabs on Julian Weigl. Franck Kessie operated as a third center-back but had license to push into midfield, supporting Valentin Atangana and Ziyad Al-Johani.
It proved to be a stroke of brilliance from Jaissle — Al-Qadsiah produced arguably their worst first-half showing of the season. Rodgers’ side struggled to play out of Al-Ahli’s aggressive press, while Weigl’s restricted role severely disrupted their build-up play. It did not help that Musab Al-Juwayr looked out of sorts in the first half either.
Al-Qadsiah’s usual attacking outlets were also neutralized, as Jaissle’s positioning of Ali Majrashi and Galeno as wing-backs meant they could directly prevent Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat and Christopher Bonsu Baah from exploiting one-on-one situations on the flanks. As a result, Al-Qadsiah were largely limited to long balls towards Mateo Retegui.
Al-Ahli completely nullified the hosts, but what was missing was the goal — until two set-pieces changed the course of the match.
In the 27th minute, Rayan Hamed launched a cross into the box that was cleared by Al-Qadsiah. The visitors immediately regained possession through Toney just outside the area, and the Englishman fired home his 25th goal of the season after Al-Brikan screened Weigl to prevent him from blocking the shot.
Al-Ahli doubled their advantage on the cusp of half-time. Another failed attempt to deal with a set-piece left Al-Juwayr exposed as Kessie slipped a through ball to Galeno. The Brazilian squared across Nacho for Atangana, who finished with a simple tap-in.
Al-Qadsiah ended the first half with just two attempts to their name. As a side that has either beaten or held the likes of Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli have proved particularly difficult opponents. Notably, Al-Qadsiah’s last league defeat came against Al-Ahli in November, with the Jeddah team also eliminating them from the Saudi King’s Cup just seven days later.
However, Al-Qadsiah were not prepared to back down, with Al-Ahli suddenly on the back foot. Nahitan Nandez began to find his rhythm, drifting between the lines and influencing play across the pitch. It was a quick restart, however, that reduced the deficit.
In the 63rd minute, Al-Juwayr played a short free-kick to Julian Quinones, who spotted Bonsu Baah lurking behind Majrashi in the final third. The Ghanaian wing-back delivered the ball into the box for Al-Juwayr, whose strike deflected off Al-Johani and past Edouard Mendy.
The Al-Qadsiah onslaught soon followed. Al-Ahli looked a shadow of the team that had dominated the first half, and it felt increasingly inevitable that the hosts would find an equalizer.
Defeat would have left Al-Qadsiah potentially 10 points behind league leaders Al-Nassr by the end of the round. But Bonsu Baah had other ideas.
Al-Juwayr released him down the byline from a short corner as the Ghanaian made his way past Mohammed Sulaiman before finding substitute Turki Al-Ammar for the equalizer two minutes into stoppage time.
Momentum had firmly shifted, but Al-Qadsiah were not satisfied with a point. With eight matches remaining and the title still within reach, victory against Al-Ahli was imperative.
It was the unlikeliest of players who completed the unlikeliest of comebacks. Ibrahim Mahnashi, who had played only 46 minutes of league football this season prior to the match, found his way into the box after a Gaston Ramirez throw-in was cleared into his path by Sulaiman.
Mahnashi rose between Toney and Galeno to fire past Mendy and send the home crowd into delirium in the dying moments.
The victory keeps Al-Qadsiah firmly on the heels of the top three. They remain fourth on 60 points, two behind Al-Ahli in second and four behind leaders Al-Nassr — who are yet to play this weekend. With Al-Qadsiah still set to host the league leaders later this season — having already beaten them away — Rodgers’ side will relish the challenge.
Elsewhere, Al-Riyadh boosted their survival hopes with a 3-1 victory over defending champions Al-Ittihad. The visitors took an early lead through Youssef En-Nesyri, but goals from Leandro Antunes, Toze and Mamadou Sylla completed an unlikely comeback for the relegation battlers. The defeat marked Al-Ittihad’s eighth loss of the season and left them three points behind Al-Taawoun in fifth place.
Meanwhile, Al-Fayha continued their quiet rise up the table, moving into ninth place on 33 points after Alfa Semedo’s solitary goal secured a 1-0 win over Al-Ettifaq.
Saudi Pro League action resumes on Saturday to conclude Matchday 26, with both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr in action in the Eastern Province. Twelfth-placed Al-Fateh host Simone Inzaghi’s side, while Jorge Jesus’ Al-Nassr face Al-Khaleej. Both matches kick off at 10:00 p.m.
