RIYADH: Few would have blamed Al-Nassr fans for having some concerns ahead of their clash at Al-Ettifaq on Tuesday. After all, the reigning Saudi Pro League champions had only won twice in Dammam in their past seven meetings.

Indeed, their 2-2 draw there last season was the first time they had dropped points in the campaign, and sparked a worrying run of form before their eventual revival and title-winning charge.

Meanwhile, it has been seven years since Arthur Papas won the J-League title as manager Ange Postecoglou’s assistant at Yokohama F. Marinos — and in the first-ever all-Australian managerial showdown in SPL history, it looked like the student was set to topple his teacher in a thrilling match that was not without its drama.

A red card for goalkeeper Bento in the 12th minute ended any hopes Al-Nassr might have had that they would dominate the game. Following a strange handball from Salem Al-Najdi in Al-Nassr’s half, Al-Ettifaq winger Rayane Messi quickly took the free-kick to send Mousa Dembele through on goal. Bento caught him outside the box and referee Mohammed Al-Hoish brandished the red card.

In a surprising move as Postecoglou rearranged his team, midfield stalwart Angelo was withdrawn and third-choice Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi took over in goal. Now effectively second in the goalkeeping pecking order as a result of the anticipated departure of Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Al-Otaibi had a night to forget.

That is not to say Papas’ side did not have Al-Nassr’s number even in the first 11 minutes. The midfield of Yasir Al-Shammari, Ondrej Duda and Alvaro Medran cut through the heart of the pitch even before the red card, and then fully imposed their dominance after the dismissal.

Al-Otaibi, who had not previously played a single minute of a league game, was repeatedly tested from range as Al-Ettifaq attempted more than 10 shots from outside the box throughout the 90 minutes.

Duda’s long-range effort in the 31st minute found the net to open the scoring. The Slovakian won possession in Al-Nassr’s half, unleashed a low shot from range, and Al-Otaibi's weak parry simply deflected the ball up and into the net.

A further series of unsuccessful long-range efforts followed before a Medran strike left Al-Otaibi with no chance and rippled the net. The goal came on the stroke of half-time, sending Al-Ettifaq into the break in a comfortable position.

This prompted Postecoglou to withdraw Cristiano Ronaldo after a difficult first half for the captain. This was his first start of the season but he failed to inch any closer to the 1,000-career-goal mark, managing just two shots.

Al-Nassr gradually grew into the game in the second half, however, and the ball almost crept into El-Ettifaq’s net after a scramble in the box in the 52nd minute. With the momentum building, they continued to push forward and a move down the right produced a low cross from Nawaf Boushal to Sadio Mane, who appeared to have pulled one back, only for the goal to ruled out for offside.

As the clock ticked down, it appeared Al-Nassr were destined to return to Riyadh with nothing — until Joao Felix stepped up to the challenge. In the 74th minute, he threaded an accurate pass through to Mane, who managed to remain onside, got in behind the Al-Ettifaq defense and finish the move by putting the ball past goalkeeper Turki Baljawsh to make it 2-1.

Riding high on the momentum created by the goal, Al-Nassr leveled the score just three minutes later. Felix was the creator once again, this time with a corner that Abdulelah Al-Amri headed home to send the away end into raptures.

While Al-Ettifaq still remained dangerous on the counter, the momentum had now swung completely in Al-Nassr’s favor. And it paid off in full in the 90th minute, when substitute Sami Al-Najei found Mane on the shoulder of the defense waiting to score his second and complete a stunning comeback victory.

Elsewhere, Abha secured their first point of the season when they held Al-Khaleej to a 1-1 draw, while Al-Taawoun and Al-Fayha played out a goalless encounter.

Meanwhile, home side Al-Shabab failed to beat 10-man Al-Riyadh despite the presence of former Al-Taawoun striker Roger Martinez and Thomas Partey in their squad.

Trezeguet opened the scoring for the visitors in the 32nd minute before Josh Brownhill equalized four minutes later. Five minutes after that, Leandro Antunes restored Al-Riyadh’s lead before Yannick Carrasco’s crisp finish five minutes later made it 2-2 at half time.

Al-Riyadh went in front once again in the 57th minute when Teddy Okou added their third, only for a stunning Carrasco free-kick to make it 3-3 in the 81st minute, which was how the game ended.

On Wednesday, Al-Faisaly host Al-Fateh at 7 p.m. and Al-Diriyah face Al-Kholood at 9 p.m.