Al Ghannam's Late Goal Helps Al-Nassr Secure Dramatic Win Against Damac In Saudi Pro League

Add as a preferred source on Google

Al-Nassr secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Damac, thanks to Sultan Al Ghannam's last-minute goal. This win keeps them narrowly ahead of Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League standings. Despite being favourites, Al-Nassr faced an early setback when Ramzi Solan scored for Damac in the 18th minute. Aymeric Laporte quickly equalised seven minutes later from a corner.

Jhon Duran played a key role in Al-Nassr's attack but struggled to convert opportunities against goalkeeper Florin Nita. The breakthrough came in the 70th minute when Otavio, coming off the bench, assisted Ali Al Hassan, who scored with a powerful shot into the top corner. However, Damac responded swiftly as Nicolae Stanciu equalised with a beautiful strike from the edge of the area.

Al-Nassr continued to press for a winner and were rewarded in stoppage time. Right-back Al Ghannam managed to scramble the ball over the line from close range, securing all three points for his team. This victory moves Al-Nassr to third place with 60 points, just two behind second-placed Al-Hilal.

Meanwhile, Al-Ahli also claimed a dramatic 3-2 win against Al-Wehda. Roger Ibanez opened the scoring early by capitalising on a rebound after Ivan Toney's header hit the post. Gabri Veiga provided another chance for Toney soon after, but he missed the target. Mahrez was instrumental again, assisting Wenderson Galeno for their second goal just before the hour mark.

The match became tense when Abdullah Al Hafith scored for Al-Wehda in the 81st minute. However, Mahrez extended Al-Ahli's lead by scoring from outside the six-yard box. Although Alaa Al Hajji netted a late goal for Al-Wehda, it wasn't enough to change the outcome as Al-Ahli held on for victory.

Statistical Insights: Fine Margins

Despite their win over Damac, Al-Nassr's performance wasn't entirely dominant. Their expected goals (xG) value was only 1.08 compared to Damac's higher xG of 1.44. Both teams had similar shots on target numbers—four each—with Damac attempting one more shot overall than their opponents.

In contrast, Al-Ahli displayed greater efficiency against Al-Wehda with an xG of 2.48. Mahrez was pivotal in their attack with two shots and several key touches inside the opponent's box. His contributions were crucial in maintaining pressure and creating opportunities throughout the match.

Both teams remain closely matched as they continue their pursuit of top positions in the league standings.