Al-Ahli Club defeated its host Al-Diriyah with a goal to nil in the match that brought the two teams together this evening, Thursday, for the first round of the Saudi Professional League.
The events of that match, held at Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Stadium, were of a good standard amid mutual control between the two teams over the flow of play, with a relative advantage for the Al-Diriyah side.
The match marked a historic occasion, as it was Al-Diriyah’s first in the Saudi Professional League and also the first for Portuguese coach Bruno Lage, manager of the Al-Diriyah team in the competition.
Al-Ahli scored the winning goal in the 25th minute through player Eduard Sebrtsian, who struck a powerful shot from inside the penalty area that deflected off an Al-Diriyah defender and nestled into the top of the net.
Al-Diriyah pushed hard for an equalizer against Al-Ahli’s goal without success; their clearest chances came from a powerful free-kick taken by player Oscar that the goalkeeper parried, and a second in the 85th minute via a low cross that found no one to convert it.
With that result, Al-Ahli collects its first three points of the Saudi Professional League this season, placing it third on goal difference alongside Al-Qadsiah and Al-Hazem, while Al-Diriyah remains pointless in 17th place.
