Benzema and Diaby impress as Al Ittihad brush aside Al Qadsiah

Al Raed 2-2 Al Wehda

A second-half goal-fest in Buraidah saw Al Raed and Al Wehda play out a 2-2 draw in the first of Saturday's three Roshn Saudi League matches.

After an opening 45 minutes where both sides created and missed a lot of chances, it was only a matter of time until it started to rain goals. The first of the bunch arrived just 77 seconds into the second half - and it was the away side who celebrated first. Right-back Saeed Al Muwallad exchanged passes with Saad Bguir before drilling a low cross that was swept home at the near post by Abdulaziz Noor to put Al Wehda in the lead.

Al Raed didn’t need long to equalise after a decisive mistake from Abdullah Al Owaisher, the Al Wehda goalkeeper failing to deal properly with Jawad El Yamiq’s back pass and surrendering the ball to Amir Sayoud. The Algerian playmaker wasted no time in punishing him.

Al Raed then edged in front following another mistake from the visitors, this time when Moroccan midfielder Mohammed Al Makahazi diverted Mohamed Fouzair’s cross into the path of Nawaf Al Sahli, who applied the finishing touch. The home side looked set to leave Al Raed Club Stadium with the three points, but deep into added-time, youngster Mourad Khodari lined up a free-kick from 30 yards out and found the bottom corner in style.

A third goal of the season after coming off the bench confirmed Khodari’s status as the in-form super-sub of the RSL, and ensured Al Wehda avoided a fourth defeat. They remain two points behind 10-placed Al Raed. 

 Damac 2-2 Al Taawoun

A goal-of-the-season contender from Georges-Kevin N’Koudou was not enough to give Damac the three points as the side from Khamis Mushait were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Al Taawoun.

Gambian forward Musa Barrow opened the scoring for the away side in the 27th minute, his fourth goal of the campaign coming via a well-taken curler from outside the Damac penalty area after being set up by Sultan Al Farhan. Damac restored parity on the hour mark thanks to Senegalese striker Habib Diallo, who was in the right position to meet N’Koudou’s cross at the far post and slot home his second goal of the season.

The 77th minute then witnessed one of the best goals this season, as N’Koudou picked up the ball deep inside Damac’s half and embarked on a 70-yard run, racing past several Al Taawoun players and making his way into the penalty area. From there, he fired into the near corner to make it 2-1 to the hosts.

There was still time, though, for Al Taawoun to get back into the game. It was two substitutes who combined for the 85th-minute equaliser; Moroccan playmaker Faycal Fajr produced an exceptional Trivela cross that was met with an improvised flying finish from Abdulfattah Adam, leaving Damac goalkeeper Florin Nita helpless to rescue.

The draw means Al Taawoun missed a chance to climb into fourth place, instead settling for fifth with 11 points, while Damac stay in 11th, with seven points.

Al Ittihad 3-1 Al Qadsiah

Second-placed RSL side Al Ittihad put on an exquisite performance in front of 35,654 fans at King Abdullah Sports City to brush aside Al Qadsiah 3-1 in Saturday's late kick-off.

The Jeddah giants needed only seven minutes to pull ahead, when winger Moussa Diaby’s quickly-taken free-kick saw him send the ball into the path of club captain Karim Benzema, who finished confidently past goalkeeper Koen Casteels. It marked the in-form Frenchman's eighth league goal of the campaign.

To their credit, the visitors from Al Khobar responded in the 20th minute, Mexican winger Julian Quinones supplying a defence-splitting pass for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who did well to round goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic before coolly slotting home the equaliser.

Minutes later, the former Arsenal and Barcelona forward found the back of the net again after a quick move started by Iker Almena, who fed Cameron Puertas, leaving the latter to square for Aubameyang to slot into the empty net. However, Al Qadsiah’s joy was short-lived as Puertas had been flagged offside in the build-up.

A moment of defensive chaos inside Al Qadsiah box saw Argentine midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez head the ball back towards his goalkeeper, but it was closer to Benzema who battled Casteels for it and placed it into the net - only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul on the Belgian goalkeeper.

Al Ittihad, who this season have won five of six RSL matches, regained their lead midway through the second half when a quick exchange of passes between Diaby and Houssem Aouar allowed the winger to get on the end of the return pass and calmly finish past Casteels to make it 2-1.

The confusion in Al Qadsiah’s defence continued, and this time it was club captain Nacho giving the ball away for substitute Mario Mitaj. The Albanian full-back duly took advantage to sweep home his first RSL goal, in the process putting the game to bed.

The result means Al Ittihad remain within three points of unbeaten leaders Al Hilal, while Al Qadsiah slip further down the table, leaving coach Michel under pressure with three defeats in their past five matches.