Rocket Strike Sparks Al-Ahli Comeback to Down Al-Qadsiah

Match Recap

Al-Ahli Jeddah grabbed a dramatic 2-1 victory over visiting Al-Qadsiah in the ninth round of the Roshen Saudi Pro League on Friday night.

With this win, Al-Ahli climbed to 17 points, moving up to fourth, while Al-Qadsiah slipped to fifth, just a point behind.

Al-Ahli’s goals came from Brazilian Wenderson Galeno in the 6th minute and Ivorian Franck Kiesé in the 66th, while Al-Qadsiah’s only reply came from Abdullah Al-Salem in the 64th.

Both teams lined up with familiar names, and the match quickly turned into a tactical duel with moments of real quality. Edouard Mendy guarded the net for Al-Ahli, while Merih Demiral and Roger Ibanez marshalled the central defense, and Ali Majrashi and Ziyad Al-Jaehani supported the right and left flanks respectively. The hosts featured Otávio and Matteo Rettigi in midfield, with Kiesé flanked by Wenderson Galeno and another attacking option, as the team sought to press from the start.

Al-Qadsiah responded with a compact setup of their own, featuring goalkeeper Kwon Castells and a back line including Natcho Fernandez and Yasser Al-Shahrani, while Otávio spearheaded their midfield alongside Musab Al-Juwair and Julian Vigo, with Christopher Bah, Matteo Rettigi, and Nahitan Nandez providing support up front.

Match events

The game began with high tempo from both sides, each trying to impose control but finding it hard to create clean chances early on.

In the sixth minute, Al-Ahli struck first through Wenderson Galeno, exploiting space between the Al-Qadsiah central defenders to fire a precise strike past the goalkeeper. The goal briefly shifted the momentum as Al-Qadsiah tightened their shape and began to threaten on the break.

Defensively, Al-Ahli’s backline, especially Roger Ibanez, repelled several dangerous balls into the box. One of the best moments came in the 39th minute when Matteo Rettigi produced a stunning overhead attempt from a left-wing cross, only for the Senegalese keeper to make a sensational save and push the ball to a corner. Rettigi also tested the keeper with a free-kick on the stroke of halftime, which hit the left post and stayed out.

Discipline would soon affect the match as Ziad Al-Jaehani picked up a red card in stoppage time, reducing Al-Ahli to ten men and adding late tension to the contest.

Second half

After the break, Al-Ahli strove to protect their lead but were forced onto the back foot due to the red card and Al-Qadsiah’s increasing pressure, with a first real test coming in the 58th minute as Musab Al-Juwair’s shot was saved by Mendy.

Galeno threatened again in the 60th minute, but his effort curled narrowly wide after a brilliant run and cutback from the right touchline.

Four minutes later, Abdullah Al-Salem rose highest to head in an equalizer from a cross, taking advantage of a momentary lapse in concentration at the far post.

Al-Ahli, however, restored their lead just two minutes later when Franck Kiesé fired a rocket from outside the box, clipping the underside of the bar and into the net, leaving the visitors stunned.

The remainder of the game saw Al-Ahli drop deeper and Al-Qadsiah pressing with purpose, but the hosts held firm to secure the win as the clock wound down. The match ended with Al-Ahli celebrating a victory that keeps them in good form and in the race for honors this season while Al-Qadsiah left the field with renewed questions about their consistency.

Reaction and outlook

Jaissle’s men answered critics with back-to-back league wins, continuing their strong form in domestic competitions after lifting the Saudi Super Cup and the Asian champions’ trophy last season. The coach’s ability to adapt and rotate players remains a talking point as the season progresses, particularly with a crowded fixture list ahead.

The club will hope this win propels them further up the table as they chase both league glory and continued continental success, while Al-Qadsiah aim to bounce back quickly and reclaim a top-flight position as the season advances.

Two punchlines to finish: 1) If football is a game of inches, this match proved it—the inches of posture, timing, and a razor-thin finish decided everything. 2) The only thing sharper than Kiesé’s shot was the referee’s whistle—now that’s what you call an audible win at the death.