After a matchweek full of fresh twists and turns, and plenty of late, late drama, Al Qadsiah emerged with their title credentials enhanced.
The hugely ambitious club, enjoying their first season back in the Roshn Saudi League, were among the many teams celebrating a last-gasp intervention, when on Sunday night they sealed an injury-time win at home to Al Riyadh.
At an expectant Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium, Michel’s men had been forced to wait for a breakthrough, denied repeatedly by an outstanding performance by visiting goalkeeper Milan Borjan.
However, Al Qadsiah were not to be thwarted in their search for a victory - one that could have major implications for their season.
In the first minute of injury-time, Nahitan Nandez crossed deep to the Al Riyadh back post, where Borjan could palm Julian Quinones’ header only into the path of Abdulaziz Al Othman. From there, the substitute lashed home on the half-volley. Al Qadsiah had prevailed at the death.
Speaking immediately after the 1-0 victory, star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang told the SPL: “Honestly, we deserved this win; we played a good game. Then, they have been solid defensively; their goalkeeper did an incredible match.
“But we managed to find the opening with a substitute, and it feels good.”
Riding the crest of an RSL wave, Al Qadsiah have reeled off seven wins in their past nine matches in the competition, tasting defeat only once.
The triumph, coupled with the round’s other results, kept the Al Khobar club in third, but crucially moved them to within a point of second-placed Al Hilal.
What's more, with 11 matchweeks remaining, Al Qadsiah sit seven back from league leaders Al Ittihad. Next up? A titanic clash with fourth-placed Al Nassr on Friday.
This late-season surge, for what upon their return to the RSL might have appeared an unlikely top-flight trophy, has gathered even more momentum.
“Of course, everything is possible,” Aubameyang said. “We keep focus on what we want to achieve, to win the games. And we will settle the accounts at the end.”
