Al-Ahli picked up right where they left off. Last season's runners-up opened their 2026/2027 Saudi Women's Premier League campaign with all three points, thumping hosts Al-Tarji 5-1 today, Friday, at the Al-Tarji club stadium in Qatif. The result came in the first round of the competition, now in its fifth edition.
Al Ahli Ladies account in X11 Sept 2026
Al-Ahli defeat Al-Taraji in the Saudi Women's Premier League
Saudi Women's Premier League account in XAl-Ahly harmony
Al-Ahli have gradually clicked into gear since their 5-2 defeat to Al-Nassr in the semi-final of the 2026 Saudi Women's Super Cup on 1 September. New Icelandic coach Thor Arnason has knitted his fresh faces together, placing his trust in Argentine captain Linda Bravo, Nigerian forward Chinaza Uchendu and English goalkeeper Claudia Moan. He can also count on two Saudi mainstays, left-back Sawaher Asiri and winger Mulook Al-Hosawi, who have both featured consistently for the team across five straight seasons.
Hosts Al-Taraji, by contrast, arrived technically settled. Bahraini coach Issa Al-Aynawi steered them to last season's title in the 2025/2026 Saudi Women's First Division, and the side has kept its stars intact, among them Tunisian captain Wafa Masoud. New Saudi goalkeeper Maria Al-Najjar adds to the mix, having claimed the best goalkeeper award last season in the 2025/2026 First Division with her former club Al-Nahda.
Experience told. Last season's runners-up leaned on their Saudi and foreign talent to seize control of the first half, and they made it count with three goals. Uchendu struck in the 11th minute, Bravo curled home a free-kick near Al-Taraji's goal in the 29th, and Maha Al-Sharif, a summer arrival from Neom, added the third in the 39th.
Saudi Women's Premier League account in XA runner-up's message
The visitors from Jeddah controlled the second half from start to finish, peppering the hosts' goal with one dangerous attack after another.
Saudi striker Dana Fahad, a summer arrival from NEOM, opened her account for her new club in the Saudi Women's Premier League in the 48th minute. Nigerian Chinaza Uchendu then grabbed her second of the match and Al-Ahli's fifth four minutes later.
Bahraini coach Issa Al-Ainawi turned to his bench, and the changes paid off. Al-Taraji finally got on the board in the 77th minute, substitute striker Ghanaian Ajigbena Zakaria netting their first goal of the match and the new season.
That was how it stayed until the final whistle. Last season's runners-up banked their first three points of the campaign and served notice to their rivals: this revamped squad is ready to fight for the title.