Franck Kessie's impressive goal in the second half secured a 2-1 win for Al-Ahli against Al-Qadsiah, keeping their unbeaten streak alive in the Saudi Pro League. Kessie found the bottom-left corner shortly
after Abdullah Al Salem equalised, propelling Al-Ahli to fourth place in the standings. This victory marked their first home league win in three matches.
Galeno had earlier given Al-Ahli an early lead with a precise shot into the bottom-right corner following Musab Al Juwayr's misplaced pass. Despite this, Al-Qadsiah increased their pressure, with Mateo Retegui testing Edouard Mendy and hitting the post from a free-kick just before halftime. The game took a turn when Ziyad Al Johani received a red card for elbowing Otavio, giving Al-Qadsiah an advantage.
Despite being down to ten men, Al-Ahli managed to hold off Al-Qadsiah's attacks effectively. They limited their opponents to only three shots on target, resulting in an expected goals (xG) of 1.04 compared to their own xG of 0.54 from seven attempts. Matthias Jaissle was pleased with his team's resilience and determination throughout the match.
Al-Qadsiah capitalised on their numerical advantage when Al Salem headed Christopher Bonsu Baah's cross into the net just moments after coming on as a substitute. However, Kessie's decisive strike soon after ensured that Al-Ahli regained control and ultimately secured all three points.
Al-Ahli remains one of three teams yet to suffer defeat in the Saudi Pro League this season. Although they trail behind leaders Al-Nassr, this victory against a potential top-three contender demonstrates their intent to compete at the highest level. Their current unbeaten run extends to ten league matches, edging closer to their best streak of 15 matches achieved in 2018.
The team has shown remarkable consistency and determination despite challenges like Al Johani's dismissal during this match. Their ability to adapt and secure crucial victories highlights their potential as strong contenders in this season's competition.
This performance not only solidifies their position but also boosts confidence within the squad as they continue striving for success in upcoming fixtures.
