Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli drop points as Saudi League returns following national team’s World Cup qualification

RIYADH: League football returned to the Kingdom following an international break that saw the Saudi national team confirm World Cup qualification, with reigning champions Al-Ittihad and AFC Champions League holders Al-Ahli both dropping vital points against A-Fayha and Al-Shabab respectively.

The start of the fifth round of the Saudi Pro League saw Al-Fayha take the lead at Al-Majma’ah Sports City Stadium with a goal from Fashion Sakala on the stroke of half-time. They were, however, pegged back by Ahmed Al-Ghamdi’s 64th face-saving equalizer for the champions.

The result left Al-Ittihad in second place, two points behind, with Al-Nassr having played one more match.

Meanwhile Al-Ahli also failed to claim three points, drawing 1-1 against visiting Al-Shabab at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. The home team took the lead through Ivan Toney after 15 minutes and looked to be holding on to a nervy win when Josh Brownhill levelled for Al-Shabab with just three minutes left.

Al-Ahli are now in fifth place with nine points from five matches, while Al-Shabab are 12th with five points from the same number of fixtures.

Also on Friday, Al-Kholood thrashed visitors Al-Najma 5-1 to lift themselves to an impressive fourth in the standing.