Al-Qadisiyah FC
Al-Qadisiyah Seal Thrilling 3-2 Pro League Win Over Al-Ahli Jeddah
Al-Qadisiya FC held their nerve in a breathless Pro League thriller, beating Al-Ahli Jeddah 3-2 in Round 6 amidst electric scenes at their King Abdullah Sport City Stadium. Tijjani Reijnders’ first-half brace proved decisive in a pulsating encounter that saw Ivan Toney drag Al-Ahli back into contention with a second-half double of his own.
Al-Qadisiyah Strike First Through Reijnders
The home side, roared on by a fervent crowd, started brightly and were rewarded in the 14th minute. Musab Al-Juwayr’s incisive pass found Reijnders, who coolly slotted past Edouard Mendy to send the Al-Qadisiyah faithful into raptures. Their dominance continued, forcing Valentin Atangana Edoa into a reckless 23rd-minute booking as Al-Ahli struggled to cope with Brendan Rodgers’ energetic side.
Al-Qadisiyah Pile Pressure Before Half-Time
Just as Al-Ahli looked to regroup before the break, Al-Qadisiyah struck twice in stoppage time to seemingly put the game to bed. First, Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat latched onto Christopher Bonsu Baah’s pass to fire home in the 45th minute. Before Al-Ahli could catch their breath, Reijnders struck again moments later, rounding off a slick move orchestrated by Abu Al-Shamat to make it 3-0.
Toney Leads Valiant Al-Ahli Fightback
After a stern half-time team talk from Mihael Pusic, Al-Ahli emerged transformed. Ivan Toney, quiet in the first half, announced himself in the 63rd minute with a clinical finish from Francisco Trincão’s cross. Just when Al-Qadisiyah thought they had weathered the storm, Toney struck again in the 82nd minute, capitalizing on Saleh Aboulshamat’s cross to set up a nervy finale.
Al-Qadisiyah Survive Late Scare
Despite Al-Ahli’s resurgence, Al-Qadisiyah held firm in a frenetic final 10 minutes punctuated by multiple substitutions and yellow cards. The home side’s 56% possession and nine shots inside the box were testament to their overall superiority, even as Al-Ahli threatened an improbable comeback.
This dramatic victory lifts Al-Qadisiyah into the upper echelons of the Pro League table, while Al-Ahli’s spirited fightback ultimately fell short. Both sides will look to build on this enthralling encounter as the season progresses, with Al-Qadisiyah’s Reijnders and Al-Ahli’s Toney emerging as early contenders for the league’s golden boot.
Key Moments
14′ ⚽ Al-Qadisiyah FC — Tijjani Reijnders (assist: Musab Al-Juwayr)
45+1′ ⚽ Al-Qadisiyah FC — Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat (assist: Christopher Bonsu Baah)
45+3′ ⚽ Al-Qadisiyah FC — Tijjani Reijnders (assist: Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat)
63′ ⚽ Al-Ahli Jeddah — Ivan Toney (assist: Francisco Trincão)
