RIYADH: Newly promoted Neom climbed into fourth place in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 home victory over Al-Okhdood that left them on six points after their first three matches.
The only goal of the game came on 28 minutes when 21-year-old Saudi international Abdulmalik Al-Oyayari received Abdoulaye Doucoure’s pass and struck a superb right-foot shot past the stretching Samuel Portugal in goal. It was his team’s first home goal in the Pro League and gave then their first home victory.
Another home-grown player, Abdulaziz Noor, hit the bar with a stunning left foot shot from almost 30 meters in what was one of the standout moments of the match. Despite the presence of danger man, and former France international, Alexandre Lacazette the home team could not add to their tally but ultimately one goal proved to be enough.
To add insult to injury, Al-Okhdood had Colombian midfielder Sebastian Pedroza sent off in second-half stoppage time.
Earlier in the day Al-Taawoun moved into fifth place, also on six points, after thrashing Ettifaq 4-1 at home, and Al-Kholood earned their first points of the season with a 2-1 win against visiting Damac.
