Alkass English
Al-Ettifaq ended their losing run with a comfortable victory over Al-Kholoud, while Neom defeated Abha and Al-Riyadh edged Al-Taawon in a series of crucial Saudi Football League encounters.
Al-Ettifaq returned to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 victory over hosts Al-Kholoud on Saturday in the final match of the 11th round of the Saudi Football League.
Khaled Al-Ghannam scored twice before Kosovar midfielder Bersant Celina converted a penalty in the 87th minute to complete the victory and secure three valuable points for Al-Ettifaq.
The result lifted Al-Ettifaq to 18 points in seventh place, while Al-Kholoud remained on 12 points in ninth.
Al-Ettifaq's victory provided a timely response to their 4-1 defeat against Al-Ittihad in the previous round. Al-Kholoud, meanwhile, continued to struggle, suffering their third consecutive loss after defeats against Al-Riyadh and Al-Qadisiyah, the latter ending 5-0.
Neom overcome Abha with second-half goal
In another fixture, Neom secured an important 2-0 away victory over Abha, with Algerian forward Said Benrahma and French striker Alexandre Lacazette finding the net.
Benrahma opened the scoring in the 15th minute, giving Neom an early advantage before Lacazette doubled the lead five minutes into the second half, in the 50th minute.
The victory raised Neom's tally to 19 points, moving them into sixth place and strengthening their position in the standings.
Abha, by contrast, remained rooted to the bottom of the table with just two points, leaving the team facing an increasingly difficult challenge as the season progresses.
Al-Riyadh edge Al-Taawon
Al-Riyadh also returned to winning form, defeating visiting Al-Taawon 2-1 in a closely contested encounter.
French forward Teddy Lea Oko broke the deadlock in the 39th minute before Ghanaian midfielder Bernard Mensah extended Al-Riyadh's advantage in the 76th minute.
Al-Taawon responded just two minutes later, with Albanian forward Nedim Bajrami reducing the deficit. However, the visitors were unable to find an equaliser, allowing Al-Riyadh to claim all three points.
The victory lifted Al-Riyadh to 12 points in 11th place, providing a boost after their recent results.
Al-Taawon remained on four points in 17th place and continued their search for a first victory of the season. The team has recorded four draws but has yet to secure a win, leaving them under pressure to improve their performances in the coming rounds.
Pressure mounts as league campaign continues
The latest results brought contrasting fortunes for the six sides involved. Al-Ettifaq, Neom and Al-Riyadh strengthened their positions with important victories, while Al-Kholoud, Abha and Al-Taawon were left seeking responses after disappointing results.
With the league campaign progressing, consistency will be crucial for teams aiming to climb the standings, while those near the bottom must begin collecting points to avoid falling further behind.