Jeddah rivals lead Jowy Elite League as Al Hilal rebound and Al Nassr suffer again

Al Ahli moved top of the Jowy Elite League on goal difference after the fourth round, while Al Ittihad, Al Hilal and Al Ettifaq also recorded significant victories.

Eleven matches were played on Sunday and Monday, 13 and 14 September, producing 34 goals. Al Ahli beat Al Watan 4-0 in Jeddah, with goals from Mohammed Al Malki, Musa Adam, Ramez Al Attar and Yazid Al Sharif.

The result gave Al Ahli three wins from four matches and 10 points, following their 2-2 draw with Al Jabalain in the previous round. Al Watan, playing their first match in the competition, remain bottom without a point.

Al Ittihad finished the round with a 2-0 victory over Al Qadsiah in Jeddah. Nawaf Al Jadani scored in the 45th minute before Ammar Al Ghamdi added a second in the 58th minute, securing Al Ittihad’s third successive league win.

Al Ittihad also have 10 points but sit second on goals scored. Al Qadsiah have six points and are 11th after suffering their second defeat of the season.

Al Hilal responded to the senior side’s surprise defeat by Neom in the Roshn Saudi League with a 4-0 win over the same opponents in Riyadh. Ahmed bin Hamed opened the scoring, while Tunisia striker Loay Al Obeidi scored twice, in the 10th and 45th minutes. Ahmed Hamza completed the victory.

The senior Al Hilal team lost 2-0 to Neom at Kingdom Arena on Monday, ending a 47-match unbeaten run in the competition and their first-team season. The youth victory lifted Al Hilal to fifth on nine points, one behind the leaders. Neom suffered their first defeat of the campaign and remain 14th on four points.

In the capital, Al Nassr lost 3-2 at home to Al Fayha despite taking a two-goal lead through Yousef Al Tahan and Abdulrahman Al Anzi. Mohammed Al Dwaish and Muath Al Habib equalised with two stoppage-time goals before Fahad Al Habishi scored Al Fayha’s winner eight minutes from full-time.

It was Al Nassr’s second consecutive defeat, following a 2-1 loss by Al Fateh. Having played three matches, Al Nassr are 15th with three points, outside the positions that qualify for the end-of-season play-offs.

Al Ettifaq climbed to third after beating Al Wehda 6-0. Abdulrahman Al Ruwaili scored twice, while Hassan Al Muslim, Abdullah Balharith, Jalal Al Salem and Mohammed Al Eissa scored once each. Al Ettifaq have 20 goals, the league’s strongest attack, and Al Eissa has scored in all four rounds. His seven goals lead the scoring chart, ahead of Al Fateh’s Jefferson Ramos and Al Ahli’s Ziyad Aba, who have four each.

Al Fateh beat reigning champions Al Hazem 2-1 in a rematch of last season’s final. Mohammed Al Jazeri and Santos scored for Al Fateh, while Amadou Diang replied. Al Fateh are fourth on nine points; Al Hazem are 16th on three.

Elsewhere, Al Khaleej drew 2-2 with Damac, Al Riyadh beat Al Tadhamon 2-0, Al Kholood defeated Al Najma 1-0, Al Orouba lost 1-0 to Al Faisaly and Al Ansar drew 1-1 with Al Jabalain. The Al Okhdood-Al Taawoun match was postponed to 21 December. There were nine wins and two draws overall, with only Al Obeidi and Al Ruwaili scoring more than once.