Five young forwards make an early mark in Saudi Arabia’s Jawwy Elite League

The first two rounds of the new Jawwy Elite League season have produced a strong early contest for the scoring charts, with Al-Ettifaq forward Mohammed Al-Essa leading the way after finding the net five times in August.

The competition, Saudi Arabia’s Under-21 league, began its latest campaign with two rounds played during the opening month of the season. Several emerging players made an immediate impression, but Al-Essa has established himself as the standout performer so far.

The Al-Ettifaq striker scored four times in his side’s 10-1 victory over Al-Tadhamon on the opening weekend before adding another goal in a 2-0 win against Damac in round two.

Those goals have moved Al-Essa clear at the top of the scoring standings and helped Al-Ettifaq claim first place with six points. The club currently lead Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun on goal difference.

Al-Essa has also taken the spotlight away from Al-Ettifaq team-mate Jalal Al-Salem, who was one of the leading players in the competition last season. Al-Salem challenged Al-Taawoun’s Basem Al-Araini for the golden boot in the previous campaign but ultimately finished short of the title.

The number nine now has the chance to build on his fast start and establish himself as the leading scorer in the second season of the Jawwy Elite League, while also strengthening his prospects with Al-Ettifaq and the Saudi Arabia national team.

Ziyad Aba provides the closest challenge

Al-Essa’s main early challenger is Al-Ahli winger Ziyad Aba, who has been named the second-best player of August after producing four goals in his opening two matches.

Aba scored a hat-trick in Al-Ahli’s 3-1 victory over Al-Fayha in round one, then found the net again as his side defeated Al-Fateh 2-1 in the following match.

The left-footed Saudi winger’s four goals place him second in the scoring standings, one behind Al-Essa. His contribution has also helped Al-Ahli collect six points and move into second place, behind Al-Ettifaq on goal difference.

Aba’s inclusion among the month’s leading performers is not based solely on his numbers. The manner in which he scored his goals also stood out, with his finishing showcasing impressive individual skill and considerable shooting ability.

Jefferson Ramos continues his rise

Al-Fateh striker Jefferson Ramos takes third place among the leading August performers after continuing the form that made him one of the most noticeable players in last season’s competition.

The Cape Verde-born forward, widely known as “En Ras”, scored three times in a 6-0 victory over Al-Ansar in the opening round. He then scored against Al-Ahli, although Al-Fateh lost that match 2-1.

Ramos remains joint second in the scoring charts with four goals, level with Aba and one behind Al-Essa. His performance has kept him among the leading attacking players despite Al-Fateh’s defeat in their second fixture.

The forward also impressed during last season’s knockout stages, scoring six goals and finding the net in every round from the quarter-final play-off onwards. The only exception was the final, which Al-Fateh lost to Al-Hazem.

Ramos was the leading foreign player in the Jawwy Elite League last season and has made an encouraging start as he attempts to maintain that status in the new campaign.

Turki Al-Ghamil catches the eye

Al-Hilal striker Turki Al-Ghamil is ranked fourth after scoring three times in the first two rounds.

He scored twice in a 2-1 victory over Al-Faisaly in round one and added another goal in a 2-0 win against Al-Kholood in the second round.

The variety in his finishing has been one of the most notable aspects of his start. Al-Ghamil scored one goal with his left foot after making an intelligent movement towards an unguarded goal, another with his right after pressing a defender and winning possession, and completed his tally from the penalty spot.

The 21-year-old is two goals behind Al-Essa and one behind both Ramos and Aba in the scoring standings.

His performances could make him a new attacking option for coach Mohammed Al-Shalhoub. Several players performed in that position for Al-Hilal last season, including Tunisia international Luai Al-Obaidi.

Yousef Al-Salem fills Al-Taawoun’s attacking gap

The fifth player to feature among August’s leading performers is Al-Taawoun forward Yousef Al-Salem, who has already taken on an important role following Al-Araini’s promotion to the first team.

Al-Araini was the Jawwy Elite League’s top scorer in its inaugural season with 20 goals, despite Al-Taawoun being eliminated in the quarter-finals. With Al-Araini moving up to the senior squad, Al-Taawoun needed a replacement in attack and Al-Salem has responded immediately.

He scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over Al-Najma in the opening round before registering the only goal in a 1-0 win against Al-Orobah.

Al-Salem has shown particular quality with his left foot, including from long range, as demonstrated by his second goal against Al-Najma.

His three goals place him level with Al-Ghamil in fourth position in the scoring standings, two behind Al-Essa and one behind Ramos and Aba.

Al-Salem’s influence has been just as significant for his team as it has been in the individual rankings. He has scored 100% of Al-Taawoun’s goals so far, guiding the club to six points and fourth place in the table, behind Al-Ettifaq, Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal on goal difference.