KSAsportz report
DAMMAM — In a strong statement of intent for the new season, Al Qadsiah emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over Al Najmah, marking the latter’s debut in the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) on Friday. The match at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium was highlighted by a stellar performance from Italian striker Mateo Retegui, who netted two goals.
Retegui, last season’s Serie A top scorer, made an immediate impact by scoring within the first five minutes, heading in a precise cross from Turki Al Ammar. This early goal sent waves of excitement through the home crowd.
Despite the pressure, Al Najmah struggled to adapt to the RSL pace, and their challenges were compounded when Julian Quinones found the net just before halftime, capitalizing on an assist from Nahitan Nandez.
However, Al Najmah showed resilience in the second half. Iraqi forward Ali Jasim pulled one back in the 54th minute, creating a moment of hope for the visitors as they threatened to equalize. Statistically, they dominated possession at 60%, creating multiple chances that nearly led to an equalizer.
Ultimately, Al Najmah’s efforts fell short as Retegui struck again in added time, securing all three points for Al Qadsiah. This result underscores Al Qadsiah’s ambitions following a fourth-place finish last season, while Al Najmah, despite the loss, can take positives from their historic debut in the league.