Saudi Pro League star Quinones gets World Cup goal tally started

RIYADH: Al-Qadsiah winger Julian Quinones got FIFA World Cup scoring off the mark as he netted the tournament’s first goal and helped co-host Mexico defeat South Africa on Thursday.

The 29-year-old attacker’s powerful low strike on the 9th minute helped the home side to a 2-0 victory at a packed Mexico City Stadium, in a game that saw 3 red cards. 

One of the stars of the Kingdom’s top football league, The Saudi Pro League, Quinones’ 33 goals boosted Al-Qadsiah to a respectable 4th place finish this season, muscling their way amongst the big four.

After scoring, the Al-Qadsiah star cheekily mimicked South Africa’s Siphiwe Tshabalala’s opening-goal celebration against Mexico in 2010, when Bafana Bafana hosted the first World Cup contest in Africa. 

In May, Quinones was on the scoresheet when Al-Qadsiah beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr 3-1 to complicate the Riyadh club’s race to the title. But a Ronaldo double on the last day of the season saw Al-Nassr crowned Saudi champions after a six year drought.

Quinones is contracted to the Dammam team until the 27/28 season.

From Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, Al-Qadsiah’s home, to the iconic Azteca, Quinones will be keen to do for his country what he has done for his club.

The Mexican, who arrived in Dammam in 2024, has racked up an impressive 62 goals from just 68 games.

He has appeared 23 times for his nation and scored one goal, but his 80 minutes in the World Cup opener means he will be a key feature in Mexico’s next two group games against South Korea and Czechia, as the co-host seek to go deeper in the competition.