Al-Ahli claimed a vital 3-2 win at Al-Fayha in a thriller on Monday night, with the tenth round of the Saudi Pro League played out at Al-Majma'ah Stadium.
The result lifts Al-Ahli to 18 points and up into third. Al-Fayha stay 14th on 7 points.
Getty Images SportEarly shock: a thrilling end to the first half
Al-Ahli's night began with a blow. An injury to Ziyad Al-Johani in the 14th minute forced a change, with Artem Bondarenko coming on in his place.
Al-Feiha pounced on their opponent's forward thrust. In the 45th minute, Hugo Mora broke from midfield on a swift counter-attack, carried the ball to the edge of the area and lashed a strike into the net past goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi.
Just before the whistle, Al-Ahli hit back. Bondarenko rose to meet a Saad Yaslam cross and glanced a well-placed header home in the 45+3 minute.
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Exchange of rhythm, and Bondarenko settles it
Al-Ahli picked up where they left off after the break, laying siege to the Al-Feiha goal. Their pressure told when Al-Hussein Boulharch brought down Mateus Gonçalves, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Firas Al-Buraikan stepped up and tucked it away in the 59th minute, his first goal in the Roshn League this season.
Al-Feiha refused to fold. In the 65th minute Jayson levelled things up with a superb right-footed free kick that curled into the right corner of Al-Sanabi's net.
Artem Bondarenko settled it. The man of the match pounced in the 70th minute, meeting Valentin Atangana's corner and firing home with his right foot from close range. VAR took a look, and the goal stood.
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Al-Ahly siege, and decisive saves
Al-Ahli took control in the final twenty minutes, hunting for the goal that would seal the result. Orlando Mosquera had other ideas. Al-Feiha's goalkeeper produced decisive saves to deny Firas Al-Buraikan in the 76th minute and Valentin Atangana two minutes later.
Mosquera struck again in the 84th minute, turning aside a Mishal Al-Mutairi effort from the middle of the box with his left foot.
Al-Ahli almost grabbed a fourth before the whistle, but the Panamanian beat away Al-Mutairi's one-on-one in the 90th minute. The game finished with a precious win for the visitors.
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