Match Events
| Min | Team | Card | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6' | Al-Shabab | Goal — Roger Martínez (assist: Josh Brownhill) | 0-1 | |
| 22' | Al-Shabab | Daniel Podence | 0-1 | |
| 22' | Al-Kholood | Mansour Camara | 0-1 | |
| 28' | Al-Shabab | Dhari Sayyar Al Anazi | 0-1 | |
| 30' | Al-Kholood | Goal — Iker Kortajarena Canellada (assist: Julien Domingues) | 1-1 | |
| 41' | Al-Kholood | Seydouba Cisse | 1-1 | |
| 45' | Al-Shabab | Substitution — Daniel Podence on, Abdullah Matuq off | 1-1 | |
| 64' | Al-Kholood | Substitution — Antoine Loic Essomba Bikoula on, Mohammed Sawaan off | 1-1 | |
| 73' | Al-Kholood | Iker Kortajarena Canellada | 1-1 | |
| 78' | Al-Shabab | Substitution — Dhari Sayyar Al Anazi on, Ali Al-Bulaihi off | 1-1 | |
| 79' | Al-Shabab | Substitution — Hammam Al-Hammami on, Murad Mohammed Khadharii off | 1-1 | |
| 87' | Al-Kholood | Goal — Abdulrahman Al-Dosari (assist: Mohammed Sawaan) | 2-1 | |
| 90' | Al-Kholood | Substitution — Abdulrahman Al-Dosari on, Mohammed Al Rashidi off | 2-1 | |
| 90+2' | Al-Kholood | Mohammed Al Rashidi | 2-1 | |
| 90+4' | Al-Kholood | Substitution — Coba Gomes da Costa on, Sultan Al Shehri off | 2-1 | |
| 90+5' | Al-Shabab | Tin Jedvaj | 2-1 |
Al-Kholood edged past Al-Shabab 2-1 at Al-Hazem Club Stadium on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, in a Saudi Pro League clash that had plenty of back-and-forth before the home side found a way through. The scores were level at the break after both teams traded early goals, and the second half settled into a tighter, more cagey affair. Al-Kholood shaded things territorially, holding 54% of the ball, and their extra edge in the final third showed in the numbers too - 14 shots to Al-Shabab's 8, with five on target compared to three. Abdulrahman Al Dosari was the man who made the difference, picking up a well-deserved Man of the Match award with a rating of 8.2. His influence ran through Al-Kholood's best moments, and it was no surprise he had a hand in turning a tight game their way. Six corners to five tells you how fine the margins were, but three points is three points, and this result gives Al-Kholood real momentum heading into their next fixture.
The Matchup
Al-Kholood 2-1 Al-Shabab was the final score at Al-Hazem Club Stadium, in a game where Al-Kholood did enough across the ninety minutes to deserve the three points. Al-Kholood also had the better share of the ball, holding 54% possession, which usually goes hand in hand with the extra control a winning side tends to show. The shot count told a similar story, with 14 attempts from Al-Kholood against 8 from Al-Shabab over the course of the game. It was not always comfortable for Al-Kholood, and Al-Shabab pushed for a way back into the game, but the result stood. Games like this can carry real weight later in the season, so this is a scoreline worth remembering. Below is a closer look at how the match broke down, statistically.
Man of the Match
Match Statistics
Al-Kholood vs Al-Shabab Lineups
Looking Ahead
Al-Kholood have a quick chance to build on this result. Their next test comes at home to Al-Qadsiah, and how they respond after this result will be worth watching. You can follow the build-up and everything you need to know when Al-Kholood vs Al-Qadsiah going to play at 9 October 2026 in Saudi Pro League 2026-27.
Al-Shabab, meanwhile, does not have long to wait before getting back out onto the pitch. They are next in action at home to Al-Taawoun, a game that will give an early sense of how they carry this result forward. Full details are here: Al-Shabab vs Al-Taawoun going to play at 11 October 2026 in Saudi Pro League 2026-27.
Match Commentary
We're into the 90th minute now and Al-Kholood lead 2-1, making a late change as Abdulrahman Al-Dosari comes on, with Mohammed Al Rashidi getting the assist on that one. Fresh legs for the closing stages as they look to see this one out.
Three minutes plus stoppage to go and Al-Kholood are still just about the tidier side with the ball, 53% to 47%. Nobody's forcing the issue though, both teams seemingly happy to take this 1-1 into the final whistle.
Five minutes of normal time left and it's still honours even at 1-1. Al-Kholood continue to edge the possession stakes slightly, but there's little urgency from either side as the clock ticks down.
Still 1-1 as we tick into the 84th minute, and this game's gone a bit flat. Possession's basically split down the middle, neither side finding the energy to break the stalemate.
83 minutes gone and the deadlock remains at 1-1, Al-Kholood just shading possession 51-49. Both sides seem content to bide their time here as we push on toward the closing stages.
82 minutes on the clock and it's still 1-1, the ball being shared almost evenly now between the two sides. Nothing doing at either end, just a bit of a waiting game as we edge closer to the final stages.
Into the 81st minute now, still 1-1, and this one's stuck in a bit of a lull. Al-Kholood keep the slight edge in possession, but neither team's willing to force the issue just yet.
We hit the 80th minute with the score unchanged at 1-1, Al-Kholood edging possession 53-47. The clock's ticking down on this stalemate and neither side looks in a rush to break it just yet.
79 minutes gone and the deadlock remains at 1-1, Al-Kholood still just about dictating with the slightly greater share of possession. A cagey passage here as both sides weigh up their next move.
78 minutes played, still level at 1-1, and Al-Kholood continue to see a bit more of the ball. Nothing doing in this passage though - both sides seem content to bide their time.
77 minutes on the clock and it's still 1-1, Al-Kholood holding a slight edge in possession at 53%. Both benches will be eyeing the final quarter-hour, but for now this one's stuck in neutral.
Quarter of an hour left in the ninety and it's honours even, 1-1, with possession now almost dead level at 51-49 to Al-Kholood. Neither side seems willing to force the issue just yet.
74 minutes gone and still nothing to separate them, 1-1 with Al-Shabab now edging the possession battle. The game's crying out for a spark from somewhere.
Minute 73 and the deadlock remains, 1-1 with Al-Kholood still edging things 51-49 in terms of the ball. It's gone a bit stale out there, both sides waiting for something to give.
71 minutes on the clock and it's still 1-1, with Al-Kholood keeping their slim 51-49 grip on possession. Both sides look content to bide their time in this stretch.
We tick into the 70th minute with the score still frozen at 1-1, Al-Kholood holding that marginal 51-49 possession edge. Neither side seems willing to force the issue just yet.
Nothing doing in the 69th minute, still level at 1-1, and the possession split sits at 51-49 in Al-Kholood's favour. This one's crying out for a spark from somewhere.
68 minutes gone and the scoreboard hasn't budged, still 1-1 out there. Al-Kholood continue to edge the possession stakes slightly, but this game's stuck in a bit of a lull.
67 minutes on the clock and the deadlock remains, 1-1 the score. Al-Kholood still have the slightly greater share of the ball, 52-48, but there's little urgency from either side to break the pattern.
Halfway through the second half now and it's the same story, 1-1 with Al-Kholood shading possession 52-48. Both sets of players look content to let this one simmer for now.
Still stuck at 1-1 as we hit 64 minutes, and the possession split barely tells a story either way. Neither side looks in a hurry to change things up right now.
63 minutes gone and it's still level at 1-1, Al-Kholood edging possession 54-46 but nothing to show for it. A real lull in proceedings now as both sides seem to be waiting for something to spark this one back into life.
Nothing much changing here in the 62nd minute, still 1-1 with Al-Kholood keeping their modest hold on possession. Al-Shabab seem perfectly comfortable letting the game drift along like this.
Just past the hour mark and this one's gone quiet, Al-Kholood ticking along with 55 percent of the ball but not really threatening to break the tie. Al-Shabab happy to let them have it in these areas, still all square at 1-1.
An hour played and the deadlock remains at 1-1, Al-Kholood still just about dominant with 55 percent of possession. Al-Shabab look content to sit in and wait for their moment, but for now there's little to separate these two.
59 minutes gone and it's the same story, Al-Kholood holding a slight edge in the ball with 55 percent. Nothing doing at either end though, this one still locked at 1-1.
58 minutes on the clock and Al-Kholood continue to edge the possession stakes, 54 percent to 46. But that's about all there is to report, with the 1-1 scoreline refusing to budge.
Into the 57th minute now and the pattern hasn't changed, Al-Kholood still shading it with 54 percent of the ball. Still 1-1, still cagey, neither side willing to force the issue.
The clock reads 55 and honestly it's more of the same, Al-Kholood ticking along with 54 percent possession but not doing much with it. Al-Shabab happy to sit in and let the 1-1 scoreline hold.
54 minutes gone and it's still Al-Kholood holding the slightly larger share at 53 percent, though nothing's really come of it. The scoreline stays frozen at 1-1 as both sides seem content to bide their time.
Nothing doing for either side in these last few minutes, Al-Kholood just edging the ball at 52 percent to Al-Shabab's 48. The deadlock at 1-1 shows no signs of breaking just yet.
Play settles into a bit of a lull here, Al-Kholood still shuffling it around with 53 percent of possession but nothing sharp coming from it. 1-1 remains the story of the afternoon as we tick past the 52nd minute.
Just past the hour of play brewing, and Al-Kholood keep ticking things over with their 53-47 edge in the ball. Still all square at 1-1, with neither side willing to force the issue right now.
Half hour mark approaching now and it's still fairly even in terms of chances, though Al-Kholood keep the bulk of possession at 53 percent. The scoreline hasn't budged, 1-1, and Al-Shabab seem content to let them have the ball for now.
Nothing doing in these last few minutes, Al-Kholood still shading possession at 57 percent but not really testing that Al-Shabab block. Score stays frozen at 1-1 as we approach the hour mark.
Al-Kholood continue to camp on the ball, that 57-43 share ticking along in their favour, but Al-Shabab's defensive shape is holding firm for now. Nothing clear-cut yet at 1-1, just a bit of a lull four minutes into this second half.
We're back underway and Al-Kholood pick up where they left off, dominating the ball early with 57 percent of it so far. Still 1-1, and Al-Shabab will need to find a way to wrestle some control back in this second period.
45 on the clock and the whistle still hasn't gone, 1-1 the score with Al-Kholood's 56-44 possession edge yet to translate into anything meaningful. We must be right on top of the break now.
44 on the clock and we're surely seconds away from the whistle now, still level at 1-1. Al-Kholood's 54-46 edge in possession hasn't amounted to much of note, this first half fizzling out rather than building to anything.
Three minutes now into added time and the referee still hasn't blown for the break, 1-1 the score with Al-Kholood keeping their 55-45 hold on possession. A long first half winding down without any real change in the pattern of play.
We're two minutes into first-half stoppage time now and 1-1 remains the story, Al-Kholood still holding the slight edge in possession at 55-45. Nothing doing in these added minutes so far as we creep towards the break.
Just the one minute left before the break and it's still 1-1, Al-Kholood ticking over with 53 percent of the ball but nothing to show for it. Feels like both sides are content to let this one simmer until half-time.
38 minutes gone and the scoreline hasn't budged, still level at 1-1. Al-Kholood continue to shade possession 54-46, but there's little urgency from either side as we edge toward half-time.
37 minutes on the clock and it's still deadlocked at 1-1, Al-Kholood edging things 54-46 in terms of the ball but not doing a great deal with it. A bit of a stalemate out there as we head toward the closing stages of the half.
Still 1-1 here as we tick into the 36th minute, Al-Kholood holding their usual share at 56 percent but struggling to turn that into anything meaningful. Al-Shabab look content to soak it up for now, both sides seemingly happy to take a breather before the half.
Nothing much doing as we approach the 35th minute, Al-Kholood still keeping the bulk of possession at 59% without really threatening. Al-Shabab happy to let them have it out wide, the game settling into a bit of a lull at 1-1.
Play ticks along at a calmer pace now, Al-Kholood still shading the ball at 60 percent but nothing coming of it just yet. Al-Shabab content to sit in, happy with parity at 1-1 as we edge past the half hour mark.
Al-Kholood settle back into their rhythm after that leveller, still dominant in possession at 60%, while Al-Shabab regroup and look to steady themselves at 1-1.
There it is - Iker Kortajarena Canellada gets the goal on 30 minutes and Al-Kholood have their reward, levelling it up at 1-1. All that possession finally counts for something.
Coming up on the half hour and Al-Kholood are still knocking it about patiently, that slight majority in possession yet to translate into anything meaningful. Al-Shabab look settled, one goal to the good and in no rush to change things.
Twenty-eight minutes on the clock and Al-Kholood still hold that 57-43 edge in the ball, but there's little urgency to it. Al-Shabab remain compact and untroubled, quite happy to let their opponents pass it around in front of them.
Half hour approaching and it's the same pattern, Al-Kholood dominating territory without ever really testing that Al-Shabab shape. The visitors look perfectly comfortable soaking up the pressure with the lead intact.
Twenty-six minutes gone and Al-Kholood keep circulating the ball without really threatening, that 60-40 share in their favour meaning little in practice. Al-Shabab sit in, content to nurse the lead for now.
Twenty-four minutes in and the story hasn't changed, Al-Kholood still with the lion's share of possession but Al-Shabab's back line refusing to budge. That slender lead sits untroubled for now.
Twenty-three minutes on the clock and it's much of the same, Al-Kholood pushing possession up near two-thirds but with nothing to show for it. Al-Shabab are happy to let them have the ball out there while that lead stays intact.
Half past the twenty-minute mark now and Al-Kholood are still camped in the majority of the ball, but Al-Shabab's shape hasn't wavered an inch. That one-goal lead looks well protected for now.
Twenty-one minutes gone and the pattern holds firm, Al-Kholood dominating the ball but still searching for a way to unlock things. Al-Shabab remain compact and content to defend that narrow lead.
Nineteen minutes played and Al-Kholood keep their foot on the ball, but there's still no end product to speak of. Al-Shabab look perfectly comfortable soaking things up while sat on that one-goal lead.
Eighteen minutes on the clock and it's the same story, Al-Kholood pushing forward with the ball but Al-Shabab refusing to budge from that 1-0 cushion. Patience is the word here, nothing breaking through just yet.
Into the 17th minute now and Al-Kholood are still probing patiently, holding the bulk of possession without any real bite. Al-Shabab sit deep and organised, seemingly happy to let the clock tick by on their slender advantage.
Sixteen minutes gone and Al-Kholood continue to dominate the ball without really unsettling Al-Shabab, who remain content to defend that 1-0 edge. Nothing urgent happening, just a steady procession of possession going nowhere yet.
Quarter of an hour gone and it's the same pattern, Al-Kholood monopolising possession without doing much with it. Al-Shabab still tucked in, quite happy to let this one simmer at 0-1.
Still that same story here at 13 minutes, Al-Kholood keeping the majority of the ball but nothing to show for it. Al-Shabab look perfectly comfortable soaking up the pressure and nursing that slender lead.
Twelve minutes on the clock and that 54-46 split still favours Al-Kholood, but they can't quite turn the ball into anything threatening. Al-Shabab happy to sit in and hold their lead for now.
Possession's ticked back in Al-Kholood's favour, 54-46 now, but it's all a bit sterile at the moment. Al-Shabab content to protect that one-goal cushion as we tick past the ten-minute mark.
Nine minutes gone and Al-Shabab still edge things territorially, though that early goal seems to have settled them into a patient rhythm rather than a rush for a second. Al-Kholood will just want to weather this spell without conceding again.
Al-Kholood have found a bit more of the ball in the last couple of minutes, 44% to 56% now, but Al-Shabab still hold that early lead. Nothing clear-cut from either side as we approach the ten-minute mark.
Al-Shabab continue to see more of it, 55% possession now, but they're yet to really force the issue. Kholood sitting in, happy to let their opponents have the ball out wide for now.
Early stages here and Al-Shabab have shaded the possession so far, 54% to 46%, though neither side has really threatened yet. Still goalless after six minutes at a cagey opening.