Dembele Hat-Trick Inspires Ettifaq Comeback in 4-2 Thriller

Al-Ettifaq emerged 4-2 winners over a battling 10-man Al Riyadh in a Pro League opener that exploded with a sixth-minute red card, two penalties, and Moussa Dembele’s clinical hat-trick. What began as a procession after Rodrigo Abascal’s early dismissal became a nerve-shredding contest when the visitors twice equalised against the run of play, before Dembele and substitute Rakan Messi finally killed their resistance.

Al-Ettifaq’s Early Dominance

The match turned inside six minutes when Al Riyadh’s Abascal lunged recklessly into Yasir Shammari, leaving referee Abdulla Hassan with no choice but to brandish a straight red. The numerical advantage told immediately: Ettifaq pinned their opponents back, racking up 66% possession and 11 first-half shots. Dembele opened the scoring on 22 minutes, timing his near-post run perfectly to glance Álvaro Medrán’s whipped cross past Milan Borjan.

Al Riyadh’s Stunning Resilience

Just when Ettifaq threatened to run away with it, Teddy Okou delivered a sucker punch in first-half stoppage time. Bernard Mensah’s through-ball split Jack Hendry and Abdullah Khateeb, and the Ivorian striker kept his cool to slot past Turki Ba Al-Jawsh. The visitors then silenced the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium again in the 56th minute when Mensah robbed Ondrej Duda 30 yards out and lashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner. Suddenly, against all odds, it was 2-2.

Dembele Seals the Drama

Ettifaq’s response was emphatic. Dembele restored their lead from the spot in the 54th minute after Sulaiman Hahya Hazazi handled Medrán’s free-kick, before substitute Messi made it 3-2 with a composed finish after Borjan parried Duda’s long-ranger. The hosts’ 20 total shots and 2.67 xG told the story of their dominance, but it took Dembele’s 98th-minute penalty – his third after Yasir Al Shammari was tripped – to finally break Riyadh’s spirit.

What This Means for Both Sides

For Ettifaq, Arthur Papas will celebrate the fighting spirit shown after twice being pegged back, but questions remain about defensive lapses that nearly cost them. Al Riyadh’s Mauricio Dulac can take pride in his side’s gutsy display despite playing 84 minutes with 10 men, though their 34% possession and just 0.63 xG highlight the mountain they’ll climb this season. Both teams face tough Matchday 2 tests: Ettifaq travel to Al-Fayha, while Riyadh host Al-Taawoun.