Al Kholood make history, Tello haunts Al Fateh

Tello comes back to haunt Al Fateh

Spanish winger Cristian Tello stuck to the football script, bagging a famous winner for Al Orobah against his former side Al Fateh in their first home match in the Roshn Saudi League since 2014-15.

The side from Al Jouf had lost their first two matches following their return to the top flight for the first time in a decade, before getting off the mark in a 3-3 thriller against fellow newcomers Al Kholood in Matchweek 3.

Alvaro Pacheco’s men continued their upwards trajectory on Thursday at Al Jouf University Stadium, remaining compact to end the first half goalless against the team that finished seventh in the RSL last season before hitting early after the break.

The only goal of the evening arrived five minutes after the restart, when Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Boateng set up Tello with a fine through pass, and the Catalan advanced through on goal and produced a dinked finish past goalkeeper Peter Szappanos to open his account for 2024-25.

Al Okhdood draw Al Qadsiah in a game of red cards

A tricky journey to Najran saw newly promoted Al Qadsiah walk away from Al Okhdood with a point after the two sides played out a goalless draw at Prince Hathloul Sports City on Thursday evening.

Both teams finished the match with 10 men, but neither were able to break the deadlock throughout 90 minutes of play, with the hosts likely the happier of the two, picking up their first point of the 2024-25 season.

As the first half drew to a close, Mexican forward Julian Quinones was deemed to have stepped on the leg of Al Okhdood captain Saeed Al Rubaie, prompting the referee to brandish a straight red card after consulting VAR. Quinones’ early shower spells disappointment for his nearly 10,000 RSL Fantasy owners as he ends the matchweek with -2 points and misses out on Al Qadsiah’s next match.

The home team came within a whisker of opening the scoring when veteran Zimbabwean Knowledge Musona picked up the ball down the right flank and powered an effort that beat goalkeeper Koen Casteels but cannoned off the upright.

Deep into added time, Al Okhdood followed their opponents in being reduced to 10 men, when Jamaican defender Damion Lowe departed the pitch for a second bookable offence. Thankfully for coach Stjepan Tomas’ side, they would have to navigate only 60 more seconds before the final whistle confirmed their first point of the campaign. 

Collado strike spells history for Al Kholood

A fine second-half strike from Alex Collado earned Al Kholood their first-ever RSL win; a 1-0 victory at the expense of Al Wehda at King Abdulaziz Sports City in Mecca.

Playing in the top division for the first time in their history, the Ar Rass outfit lost their first two matches of the campaign against Al Ittihad and Al Riyadh before picking up a point against fellow newly promoted side Al Orobah in Matchweek 3.

Iraqi winger Youssef Amyn was lively throughout for Al Wehda, but saw two efforts denied by goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe, while Al Kholood centre-back William Troost-Ekong was able to keep Nigeria international teammate Odion Ighalo quiet for the night, earning his side a first clean sheet.

After a goalless first half, the deadlock was finally broken by former Real Betis and Al Okhdood playmaker Collado, who picked up Abdullah Hawsawi’s ball on the edge of the area, cut inside on his left foot and found the bottom corner with an accurate strike to record his side’s historic first RSL win.