Omar Al Somah ends 15-year Syrian league wait as Hamdallah closes in on Saudi record

Omar Al Somah scored in the Syrian league for the first time in almost 15 years on Friday, as the former Al-Ahli Saudi striker struck for Al-Wahda in a 3-2 defeat by Ahli Aleppo.

The 37-year-old was named in the Al-Wahda side for the current Syrian league season and played a key role in their attempt to recover from a difficult start. His goal made it 2-2 and appeared to have secured a point for his team, but Ahli Aleppo scored a late winner in the closing minutes.

The strike was Al Somah’s first in the Syrian league since he joined Al-Wahda during last summer’s transfer window, according to Saudi newspaper Al Yaum.

It also marked his return to the scoring charts in Syria after an absence of about 15 years. Al Somah left Al-Futowa in 2011 to join Kuwaiti club Al-Qadsia, beginning a career that later established him as one of the leading scorers in the Saudi league.

His historic Saudi record is now under serious threat from Moroccan forward Abdulrazak Hamdallah, who plays for Al-Taawoun.

Hamdallah scored in Al-Taawoun’s 1-1 draw with Al-Ettifaq last Saturday in the 12th round of the Roshn Saudi League. The goal took his total in the competition to 160, making him the second-highest scorer in its history.

He is now just one goal behind Al Somah, who remains the league’s leading scorer in the professional era.

With a substantial number of matches still to play for Hamdallah this season, the Al-Taawoun striker has the opportunity to surpass Al Somah and claim the all-time scoring record in the Saudi professional league.