Analysis The numbers behind the result
Late Pululu penalty salvages Al-Hazm draw against wasteful Al Shabab
The 1-1 draw was a fair reflection of the balance of play, with Al-Hazm narrowly edging the xG battle (1.00 to 0.90) despite Al Shabab's superior possession (55%) and shot volume (11 to 8). Al Shabab's greater attacking intent was evident in their higher number of shots inside the box (7 vs 2) and corners (8 vs 3), but they were ultimately wasteful, converting just one of their six shots on target.
The decisive moments came either side of the break. Roger Martínez gave Al Shabab the lead in the 48th minute, finishing a Yannick Carrasco assist, but Afimico Pululu levelled deep into stoppage time with a penalty after a second yellow card for Dhari Al-Enezi left Al Shabab down to 10 men. Al Shabab's inability to capitalise on their territorial dominance — they had twice as many shots on target as Al-Hazm — proved costly, with Pululu's late intervention ensuring the hosts snatched a point.
The key stat was Al Shabab's 0.90 xG, which underlines their inefficiency in front of goal despite creating the better chances.