Al-Ula defeated Shahrdari Gorgan 99 to 84 in the WASL competition on 1 October 2026. The visitors took control early and held firm despite a spirited second-half response from the hosts. And here's the thing — the final margin tells only half the story of how the game unfolded.
Shahrdari Gorgan sit third in the standings after seven matches, with three wins and four defeats. The loss drops them further from the top, though they remain in contention. Al-Ula, meanwhile, extended their winning streak and moved closer to the upper echelon of the table.
The hosts had momentum coming into this fixture. Their last outing saw them edge past Al-Arabi 85 to 76, following a heavy defeat to Sagessa Beirut the week before. Al-Ula arrived with mixed form — a narrow loss to Beirut followed by a commanding win over Al-Arabi.
I had Shahrdari Gorgan winning this one, 66 per cent confidence. To be fair, the home advantage and recent victory made that feel reasonable. But Al-Ula's shooting touched and their ability to close the game out when it mattered proved decisive. The visitors turned to their bench and kept the pressure on.
The result means Shahrdari Gorgan now face a tougher run in the standings. Four losses in seven games is a pattern that doesn't end well in these competitions. Al-Ula's away form continues to be their strength, and this victory adds weight to their promotion ambitions.
