Al‑Ahli secured a 1‑0 win over Al‑Kholood at Al‑Hazem Stadium on 17 January 2026, with Lucas “Lukita” Santos heading the decisive goal in the 58th minute. The victory lifted Al‑Ahli to 48 points, cementing their spot in the league’s top four and keeping them within striking distance of the leaders. It also widened the gap to third‑placed Al‑Ittihad to just two points.
Match Overview
The fixture took place at 15:10 UTC in Ar Rass, Saudi Arabia. Al‑Ahli entered the match in fourth place, while Al‑Kholood fought to escape the relegation zone from 13th position.
Al‑Kholood Defensive Setup
Managed by former Saudi international Saeed Al‑Shammari, Al‑Kholood lined up in a compact 4‑5‑1 formation designed to absorb pressure and strike on the break. Their lone striker, Saad Al‑Mousa, received several chances inside the box but was repeatedly denied by Al‑Ahli goalkeeper Nawaf Al‑Khater. A yellow card for midfielder Youssef Al‑Bashir reduced their options for a period.
Al‑Ahli’s Winning Goal
Al‑Ahli deployed a fluid 4‑3‑3, with midfield trio Abdullah Al‑Fahad, Khaled Al‑Saadi, and veteran play‑maker Saleh Al‑Saeed controlling possession. In the 58th minute, winger Omar Al‑Haddad cut inside on the right flank and delivered a low cross into the penalty area. Lucas “Lukita” Santos timed his run perfectly and headed the ball past Al‑Kholood keeper Mahmoud Al‑Jabri to give Al‑Ahli the lead.
Key Statistics
- Shots: Al‑Ahli 6 (3 on target) – Al‑Kholood 4 (1 on target)
- Possession: Al‑Ahli 54% – Al‑Kholood 46%
- Passes: Al‑Ahli 482 (84% accuracy) – Al‑Kholood 398 (78% accuracy)
- Corners: 5 each
- Discipline: 3 yellow cards (2 Al‑Kholood, 1 Al‑Ahli)
League Table Impact
Al‑Ahli’s three points moved them to 48 points from 22 matches, solidifying their top‑four status and leaving them eight points behind leaders Al‑Hilal. The win also reduced the gap to third‑placed Al‑Ittihad to two points, keeping the race for AFC Champions League qualification tight.
Al‑Kholood remains in 13th place with 21 points, just three points above the relegation zone. The defeat marks their second consecutive loss, intensifying pressure on manager Saeed Al‑Shammari to secure points in the remaining fixtures.
Future Fixtures
Al‑Ahli will travel to Jeddah next week to face Al‑Ittihad in a clash that could determine the final European qualification spots.
Al‑Kholood’s next match is against newly promoted Al‑Batin, a fixture that offers a realistic chance to climb out of the relegation battle.
