Conceicao Keeps the Dream Alive as League Talk Remains Early

Match Recap

Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao said he was pleased with Al-Ittihad's 2-1 victory over Riyadh on Friday night at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, a result that lifted the team to seventh with 14 points. Riyadh remained thirteenth with eight points after the loss.

Game Plan and Aftermath

Conceicao noted that while the performance wasn't a stroll in the park, he showed respect for Riyadh and their new coach, keeping the contest tight and the scoreline closer than expected. He believed the chances his side created could have yielded more goals.

Conceicao said in the post-match press conference: 'I don’t want to say the game was easy, but with respect for Riyadh and their coach we could have scored more.'

He added that Riyadh did not pose danger to his team before Mousa Diabi's sending off; after the red, hope returned to Riyadh and they appeared the more dangerous side at times. 'There are red cards I can accept, and others that aren’t right, and we will talk with the players about that,' he said.

Conceicao continued: 'We knew Riyadh would defend deep, we created many chances but failed to convert, and we faced extra difficulty after the dismissal. We could have wrapped up the match earlier; we have a break coming up, and a clear plan for the preparation during that period. For now, we have two more matches before the break.'

'The talk about the league is still early,' he added. 'We finished a domestic fixture and now our focus is fully on the next Asia Elite Cup game.'

Coach and Disciplinary News

Karineio: I’m Still Getting to Know Riyadh

Riyadh coach Daniel Carinio explained the defeat by saying he is still learning about the squad's capabilities. 'We are trying to work with the team more; we have only five training sessions, and I’m still getting to know the group,' he said.

He noted: 'It helps that I know many clubs in the Saudi league. We haven’t built the team from scratch, but we must adapt with a long break ahead; in the first half, Al-Ittihad dominated with space behind, but we did not exploit it and we couldn't mount counterattacks. In the second half Riyadh pressed more, and after the red card we were better but could not overturn the result.'

Carinio added: 'There is no referee anger here; no major mistakes were made, we simply hoped for longer stoppage time.'

Double Punishment for Diabi

The Saudi newspaper Al-Yom reported that Al-Ittihad player Mousa Diabi will face a double sanction from the disciplinary committee for 'misconduct' during the match, potentially a two-match ban and a fine of 20,000 Saudi riyals. He will miss the next clash against Al-Shabab in the King’s Cup quarterfinals.

The match also sparked debate over the red card, with some arguing it was deserved and others considering it harsh. A Jordanian officiating expert told Al-Yom the sending off was not correct, citing competition for the ball and grappling rather than a clear strike. An Egyptian officiating analyst, however, said the red card was warranted for 'sly misconduct' toward an opponent without competing for the ball.

New Friction

The game also highlighted a renewed clash between the two managers, as press reports noted Conceicao and Carinio’s teams had met ten times previously, with five wins for one side, three draws, and two wins for the other. They both bring substantial Saudi experience, including Conceicao's success with Porto and a short stint with Milan, and Carinio’s extensive work with multiple clubs in the kingdom.

The Federation and club leadership are hopeful that Al-Ittihad can rebound after a challenging start this season, following a league and domestic cup double last year under Laurent Blanc. The change to Conceicao has sparked optimism for a stronger run in both domestic and Asian competitions, as the team aims to write a lasting chapter in Saudi football.

Punchline 1: If golf had penalties like this league, Riyadh would be playing keep-away with the hole-in-one clock. Punchline 2: Conceicao didn’t just bring tactics; he brought a calendar that says, in big letters, Early Access — enjoy the preview while it lasts.