Fabinho Ends 467-Day Goal Drought in Jeddah Derby
6 March 2026
Fabinho Ends 467-Day Goal Drought in Jeddah Derby
Brazilian midfielder Fabinho Tavares of Al Ittihad ended his long goalless spell by scoring against Al Ahli on Friday evening in Round 25 of the Roshn Saudi Pro League.
He converted a penalty in the 51st minute of the second half after Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn went down in the box, earning the crucial spot-kick that leveled the match.
That goal marked Fabinho's first in the Roshn Saudi League in 467 days, since he last scored against Al Fateh on November 24 of last season. In 22 league appearances this season, he had not found the net, though he did score in the AFC Champions League.
Stakes High as Top Teams Clash
The Jeddah Derby carries enormous significance for both sets of supporters as the two clubs fight near the summit, each eager to claim bragging rights in one of Saudi football's marquee fixtures.
And now, a couple of light moments to close: Punchline 1: If goals were as rare as my Wi-Fi in a stadium, Fabinho just upgraded to 5G. Punchline 2: The derby was so dramatic that even the net filed a complaint for emotional distress.
