Louay Al-Obaidi stars as five young talents shine in Saudi U21 league

Louay Al-Obaidi returned to prominence with two goals for Al-Hilal in the fourth round of the J League Elite, the Saudi Arabian Under-21 competition.

Eleven matches were played over two days, with several emerging players making a significant impact for their teams. Al-Obaidi was the standout performer, scoring twice as Al-Hilal beat Neom 4-0 at Al-Za’eem Stadium in Riyadh on Sunday.

The Tunisia striker impressed with his ability to finish with his left foot from a variety of angles and also contributed to the build-up, including for the opening goal. His display came after Al-Hilal team-mate Turki Al-Ghameel had scored three times in the opening two rounds, leading some to believe Al-Obaidi’s influence had diminished.

Instead, Al-Obaidi answered with goals and assists, recalling the form that led analysts to compare him with former Italy striker Amauri last season.

His Al-Hilal team-mate Ahmed Hamza Ali also produced a memorable moment against Neom. In the 84th minute, he collected the ball in midfield, ran through the defence while dribbling past several players and finished to complete the 4-0 victory.

The goal brought back memories of Diego Armando Maradona’s famous solo effort against England in the quarter-final of the 1986 World Cup. Hamza’s celebration also carried a message of support for Al-Hilal’s first-team midfielder Ruben Neves.

Neves had been subjected to an upsetting incident during Al-Hilal’s 6-0 win at Al-Taawoun in the seventh round of the Saudi Pro League last Saturday. Some Al-Taawoun supporters chanted the name of former Liverpool player Diogo Jota, who died in a tragic accident last year, in an attempt to provoke his fellow Portugal international.

Hamza used his celebration to offer solidarity to Neves, making the goal significant both for its execution and its meaning.

Left-footed finishing was also central to Al-Ettifaq’s 6-0 victory over Al-Wehda, where Abdulrahman Al-Ruwaili scored twice. He was the only Al-Ettifaq player to find the net more than once, using the inside of his foot for his first goal and the outside for his second.

Al-Ruwaili showed intelligent movement in crowded areas and in open space. Although the match marked his first goals of the season, his performance has raised expectations for the rounds ahead.

Mohammed Al-Essa scored Al-Ettifaq’s sixth goal in the 71st minute after dribbling past two defenders. It was his seventh goal of the campaign and extended his record of scoring in all four rounds.

Al-Essa leads the scoring chart ahead of Ziyad Aba of Al-Ahli and Jefferson Ramos of Al-Fateh, who have four goals each. Al-Ettifaq have scored 20 goals, an average of five per match, with Al-Essa responsible for seven.

Ammar Al-Ghamdi completed the five standout performances by scoring in Al-Ittihad’s 2-0 win over Al-Qadsiah. After controlling a long pass, he used his pace and strength, beat another defender and finished with his left foot. It was his third consecutive match with a goal, reviving his challenge for the golden boot after last season’s campaign.