Al Jabalain hand Al Hazem early setback as Al Ahli and Al Taawoun impress

The holders Al Hazem suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat by Al Jabalain as the Jowy Elite League Under-21 competition returned, while Al Ahli began their campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Al Fayha.

Al Hazem were champions of the inaugural edition of the competition, staged last season, after winning the first major title in the club’s history. However, their attempt to retain the trophy got off to a disappointing start as Al Jabalain overturned an early deficit to claim three valuable points.

The defending champions took control shortly before half-time when Omar Al-Hattami opened the scoring in the 42nd minute. Al Hazem went into the interval ahead and appeared to be on course for a winning start.

Al Jabalain responded strongly after the break. Kabiru Salisu restored parity in the 55th minute before Osama Al-Shahri completed the comeback five minutes from the end of normal time. His 85th-minute goal secured the victory and delivered an early warning to the reigning champions that the new campaign will not be straightforward.

Al Ahli, meanwhile, made a commanding start against Al Fayha, winning 3-1 in a match dominated by Ziyad Aba. The forward scored all three of his side’s goals, finding the net in the 28th, 58th and 79th minutes.

Al Fayha briefly threatened to level the contest when Malik Al-Abdulmunim scored in the 39th minute, but Al Ahli maintained their composure and regained control after the interval. Aba’s second goal restored their advantage before he completed his hat-trick late in the match, giving Al Ahli an important opening victory and placing him among the standout performers of the round.

The result also underlined Al Ahli’s readiness to compete for the title after a productive first outing in the competition.

In another fixture, Al Taawoun recorded a 2-0 victory over Al Najma to begin their campaign with three points. Yousef Al-Salem was the decisive figure, scoring once in each half. He put Al Taawoun in front in the 19th minute and doubled the lead in the 60th minute.

The opening round therefore produced contrasting fortunes for the teams involved. Al Hazem, who entered the tournament as the first champions in its history, were immediately faced with a difficult test, while Al Jabalain demonstrated their ability to recover from a losing position.

Al Ahli’s emphatic win and Al Taawoun’s clean-sheet victory also provided early evidence that several clubs are prepared to challenge for the title. With the competition only just under way, the results have created an open picture and suggested that the holders will face considerable pressure as they attempt to defend their crown.