KSAsportz report
KHOBAR — In a thrilling encounter in the Saudi Pro League on Wednesday, Al Qadsiah marked their return to winning ways by narrowly defeating Al Shabab 3-2. This victory brings Al Qadsiah’s season record to 3 wins and 5 losses, placing them in the middle of the table.
The match started brightly for Al Qadsiah, with Italy’s Mateo Retegui finding the net in the 12th minute. This was followed by a penalty conversion from Mexico’s Julian Quinones in the 31st minute, doubling the lead. The hosts continued to assert their dominance as Uruguay midfielder Nahitan Nandez scored a third goal just before halftime, bringing the total for Al Qadsiah to 15 goals this season.
Al Shabab responded in the second half, with England’s Josh Brownhill pulling one back in the 61st minute, further intensifying the contest. A stoppage-time penalty taken by Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco marked Al Shabab’s effort to tie the game, but ultimately, Al Qadsiah held on for the win.
Post-match, Al Qadsiah head coach Brendan Rodgers expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and acknowledged the significance of his first victory with the club. “We played very well in the first half and controlled the game,” Rodgers stated. “We started the second half a little slowly, but Al Shabab’s reaction was expected.”
Rodgers praised his players for their resilience and noted, “We could have scored more goals given the number of chances created. The strength in our style of play is evident, and we will continue learning and improving as the season progresses.”
Statistics reveal a closely contested match, with Al Qadsiah registering 14 shots, compared to Al Shabab’s 11, reflecting the competitive nature of this league fixture.