Trezeguet features as Riyadh edge Al Taawoun in Saudi Pro League

Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” helped Riyadh secure a 2-1 victory over Al Taawoun as the Saudi Pro League’s 11th round concluded.

French forward Teddy Okou opened the scoring for Riyadh, while Ghanaian midfielder Bernard Mensah added a second after the interval. Nedim Bajrami pulled one back for Al Taawoun, but Riyadh held on to claim all three points.

The result moved Riyadh up to 12 points and 11th place in the Saudi Pro League table. Al Taawoun remain on four points in 17th place, which is second from bottom.

Riyadh took the lead in the 39th minute when Okou found the net against Al Taawoun. The visitors then dropped deeper, allowing Al Taawoun to increase the pressure before half-time.

Abdel-Razak Hamdallah appeared to score an equaliser for Al Taawoun, but the goal did not stand. An incorrect intervention by Mohammed Al-Kuwikibi prevented the hosts from drawing level late in the first half after the incident was reviewed by the video assistant referee.

Riyadh restored their advantage in the 76th minute with an impressive counter-attack. Mensah carried the ball forward before advancing into a one-on-one position with the Al Taawoun goalkeeper and calmly finished into the net.

Al Taawoun responded within two minutes. Substitute Bajrami joined the attack during a corner and reduced the deficit with a strike from outside the penalty area.

The goal gave Al Taawoun a chance to put Riyadh under further pressure, but the visitors maintained their lead to complete the 2-1 win.