Match Events
| Min | Team | Card | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32' | Al-Kholood | Goal — I. Kortajarena (assist: C. da Costa) | 1-0 | |
| 35' | Al-Kholood | Hamed Al-Shanqity | 1-0 | |
| 43' | Al-Ahli | Ivan Toney | 1-0 | |
| 46' | Al-Ahli | Substitution — R. Hamidou on, M. Abdulrahman off | 1-0 | |
| 64' | Al-Ahli | Substitution — F. Al Buraikan on, S. Abu Al Shamat off | 1-0 | |
| 65' | Al-Ahli | Substitution — S. Balobaid on, Z. Al Hawsawi off | 1-0 | |
| 66' | Al-Ahli | Goal — I. Toney (assist: E. Spertsyan) | 1-1 | |
| 73' | Al-Kholood | Substitution — I. Kortajarena on, A. Al Dawsari off | 1-1 | |
| 76' | Al-Kholood | Mansour Camara | 1-1 | |
| 78' | Al-Kholood | Substitution — A. Al Aliwa on, M. Sawan off | 1-1 | |
| 85' | Al-Kholood | Goal — J. Domingues (assist: R. Solan) | 2-1 | |
| 87' | Al-Ahli | Substitution — A. Bondarenko on, A. Radif off | 2-1 | |
| 90+2' | Al-Kholood | Substitution — J. Domingues on, S. Al Shehri off | 2-1 | |
| 90' | Al-Kholood | Goal — M. Sawan (assist: C. da Costa) | 3-1 |
Al-Kholood pulled off a scrappy but deserved 3-1 win over Al-Ahli at Al-Hazem Club Stadium on Saturday, 29 August 2026, despite barely getting a look at the ball for long spells. They went in front before half-time and held that 1-0 cushion at the break, even though Al-Ahli were dominating territory. The visitors just couldn't find a way through, and Al-Kholood made them pay on the counter. Al-Ahli finished the game with far more of the ball and nearly four times as many attempts on goal, but efficiency won out. Iker Kortajarena was the difference, capping a fine display with the Man of the Match award and a rating of 7.7. Al-Ahli did pull one back late on, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome. For Al-Kholood, three points against a team that had them penned in for most of the afternoon will feel like a real statement result.
The Matchup
Al-Kholood beat Al-Ahli 3-1 at Al-Hazem Club Stadium, and the numbers from the match back up how the game played out. Al-Kholood also had the better share of the ball, holding 31% 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 4 attempts from Al-Kholood against 16 from Al-Ahli over the course of the game. Al-Ahli had their moments and did not make it easy from start to finish, but ultimately came up short on the day. Small margins like this one tend to add up over a season, and results such as this are often what separates teams in the table further down the line. Here is a closer look at exactly how the two sides compared, statistically.
Man of the Match
Match Statistics
Al-Kholood vs Al-Ahli Lineups
Looking Ahead
Al-Kholood will already be turning their attention to what comes next. 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-Ahli, meanwhile, have a quick chance to build on this result. They are next in action away at Al-Fateh, a game that will give an early sense of how they carry this result forward. Full details are here: Al-Fateh vs Al-Ahli going to play at 9 October 2026 in Saudi Pro League 2026-27.