When Late Penalties Tie the Knot: Al-Ahli and Riyadh's Dramedy in the Saudi Pro League

Match snapshot

The German coach Mathias Jaissle of Al-Ahli Saudi FC voiced his disappointment after the 1-1 draw with Riyadh, saying his team lacked the solutions and pace needed in the final third.

In reply, Spanish coach Javier Kalixá of Riyadh argued that his side achieved their objective by grabbing a precious point at a difficult venue, against one of the league’s best teams.

Jaissle stressed that Al-Ahli failed to capitalize on their late advance, while Kalixá praised his players for executing a smart defensive plan and for showing resilience until the final minutes.

The managers spoke after both teams left the field with a point that felt different: a loss taste for the home side and a win taste for Riyadh.

Al-Ahli, playing at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, settled for the 1-1 draw with Riyadh in Round 7 of the Roshen Saudi Pro League, leaving them with 13 points (3 wins, 4 draws) and Riyadh on 7 points (12th place).

Al-Ahli took the lead from a 90+1 penalty converted by English striker Ivan Tony, only for the visitors to reply with a late penalty at 90+11, converted by Portuguese forward Jose Tosi.

Coaches' perspectives and context

Jaissle’s post-match remarks framed the result as disappointing. He said his side dominated at times but lacked the speed and efficacy in the box to convert chances. “We needed more speed and a higher intensity in the final third, especially against teams that defend deeply,” he explained.

Speaking about the game plan, he added that the team attempted an attacking approach, then shifted to a back three, creating several opportunities that went unutilized. He cautioned against singling out any one player, noting the collective need for sharper finishing.

He also touched on new signings—Mathias, Saleh Abu Shamatah, and Enzo Mio—saying the trio is part of a broader plan but emphasized the squad still needs more smart decision-making in certain matches. “We should have signed attacking players after the departures, but in these fixtures we must be smarter after taking the lead and avoid costly mistakes, especially with added injury time,” Jaissle stated.

Kalixá, meanwhile, welcomed the point as a fair reflection given the opponent’s dominance in possession and the contest’s flow. He noted that Al-Ahli would likely control the ball, so Riyadh focused on defending with pressure and leveraging their quality and pace when possible.

On refereeing, Kalixá criticized a controversial moment: “The referee made a clear error; there was no penalty for Al-Ahli. A Riyadh handball was in a natural position. Still, we showed character and did not give up.”

Historic draw and league implications

The draw marked a milestone in the Riyadh–Al-Ahli rivalry, yielding their first stalemate in the Saudi Professional League after a late penalty swing, extending an encounter that lasted over 110 minutes.

Historically, the teams had met five times in the league, with Al-Ahli winning three, Riyadh once, and this match becoming the first draw between them in league play.

As the minutes wore on, two late penalties amplified the drama, with the Slovenian referee Radovan Obrienovic awarding one to each side amid protests from both benches, and additional appeals from Al-Ahli for two more penalties and Riyadh for another before the equalizer.

Players from the Reds also thwarted Jaissle’s attempt to celebrate his 100th match in charge, a milestone that now stands alongside his long tenure, making this the German coach’s longest stint in club management so far, surpassing his Austrian tenure at Red Bull Salzburg in terms of matches coached.

Jaissle now eyes a Saudi Professional League title as part of a broader goal after last season’s Asian Champions League redemption, a landmark achievement that surprised many on both domestic and continental fronts.

Punchline time: If football were a math test, today’s homework would say: “Always check for late penalties—they count as extra credit, and the teacher always seems to add more minutes.”

Punchline time 2: And remember, in football as in comedy, timing is everything—the ball just needed a better publicist to get into the back of the net.