Al Hilal face Neom test as Saudi U21 league leaders seek to extend perfect start

The fourth round of the Jowy Elite League, Saudi Arabia’s Under-21 competition, begins on 13 September with Al Hilal facing Neom and Al Nassr aiming to recover from a surprise defeat by Al Fateh.

The second season of the 24-team league began in August, with clubs competing for the title, promotion to the top group or survival in the Regional League. The latest round will be the first this season in which every scheduled match is played without postponement, after delays affected each of the opening three rounds.

Sunday’s fixtures include Al Khaleej against Damac in Saihat, Al Ettifaq against Al Wehda in Dammam, and Al Riyadh against Al Tadhamon in the Saudi capital. Al Nassr also host Al Fayha in Riyadh.

Al Najma welcome Al Khlood at the Education Administration Stadium in Unaizah, while Al Ahli host Al Khlood in Jeddah and Al Hilal face Neom in Riyadh.

Five matches follow on the second day. Al Taawoun travel to Al Okhdood at Damac Club Stadium in Khamis Mushait, Al Fateh visit Al Hazem in Al-Rass and Al Ansar meet Al Jabalain in Medina. Al Orobah play Al Faisaly in Al Jouf before Al Ittihad host Al Qadsiah in Jeddah in the round’s final match.

Al Nassr need a response against Al Fayha after losing 2-1 to Al Fateh last time out. It was their third defeat by the same opponents across the two seasons of the Jowy Elite League. The result left Al Nassr 13th with three points from two matches, having won once and lost once; their opening fixture against Al Watan was postponed.

Al Fayha have also made a difficult start. They lost 3-1 to Al Ahli in round one and 3-1 to defending champions Al Hazem last time out, with their only victory a 2-0 win over newly promoted Al Ansar. They are 16th with three points, a disappointing position for a side that reached last season’s quarter-final play-off.

Al Ahli’s apparently straightforward meeting with Al Watan carries uncertainty because the newcomers will be playing their first match. Their fixtures against Al Nassr, Al Hazem and Al Ansar were all postponed, leaving Al Ahli with no previous information on their opponents.

Al Ahli will also be without goalkeeper Salman Al-Jadani, who was sent off against Al Jabalain in the 61st minute for a strong challenge. His dismissal contributed to Al Ahli conceding twice in less than half an hour as they drew 2-2, their first dropped points of the season. They are third on seven points from two wins and a draw.

Al Hilal, seventh with six points, face Neom in a repeat of the senior teams’ most recent Roshn Saudi League fixture, when Neom won 2-0 on Monday. Al Hilal’s Under-21 side must also recover from a 2-1 defeat by Al Taawoun last round. Neom, meanwhile, have had almost two weeks without a match after their meeting with Al Okhdood was postponed. They beat Al Orobah and drew with Al Najma in their opening two games to collect four points.

Leaders Al Taawoun have won all three matches and sit top with nine points. They will attempt to maintain that record against Al Okhdood, who are 21st without a point. Al Okhdood have played only once, losing 3-0 to Al Faisaly, while matches against Al Khlood and Neom were postponed.

Al Fateh meet Al Hazem for the first time since losing last season’s final 3-1, four months ago. Al Fateh beat Al Nassr 2-1 last round, while Al Hazem recorded their first win of the campaign by defeating Al Fayha 3-1. Al Fateh are fifth with six points from two wins and one defeat, while Al Hazem are 14th with three points.

The round finishes with second-placed Al Ittihad against Al Qadsiah. Al Ittihad have seven points, including a goalless draw with Damac and successive victories, the latest a 4-1 win over Al Wehda. Al Qadsiah moved to sixth with six points after beating former leaders Al Ettifaq 4-2 and would enter the top four by defeating Al Ittihad.

After three rounds, 31 matches have produced 26 wins and five draws, including the goalless draw between Al Ittihad and Damac. There have been 97 goals, more than three per game. Al Ettifaq have scored the most, with 14, while Al Ittihad, Al Taawoun and Neom have conceded one each among the teams to have played.

Al Tadhamon have the weakest defence, conceding 14 goals in three matches. Al Okhdood, Al Orobah and Al Ansar have yet to score, while Al Watan have not played. Al Ettifaq’s Mohamed Al-Essa leads the scoring charts with six goals, followed by Al Ahli’s Ziyad Aba and Al Fateh forward Ein Rass on four each.