Al-Ula claimed all three points with a 1:0 win over Al-Anwar in the First Division's second round of matches. The result, decided in the seventy-first minute, extends the visitors' unbeaten run to two games while leaving the hosts without a victory so far this season.
The decisive moment came when S. Sow found the net at the hour mark and a half. By then, both sides had already seen their fair share of yellow cards — four apiece — suggesting a physical contest rather than a tactical chess match. Al-Anwar held on grimly after the goal, but could not find an equaliser.
Al-Ula's efficiency was telling. They registered seven shots on target and converted one, giving them a 0.41 accuracy rate. Al-Anwar managed three attempts on goal with only one finding the back of the net, their accuracy standing at 0.25. To be fair, both teams shared possession evenly at 50 percent, but the shots told a different story.
The visitors completed 87 attacks compared to the hosts' 73, and won seven corners to three. Al-Anwar's defensive record showed no blocked shots, which perhaps explains why they conceded. Al-Ula blocked three attempts, a small but meaningful difference in a tight game.
In the table, the contrast is stark. Al-Ula sit second with six points from two victories, while Al-Anwar remain fifteenth with just one point from a draw and a loss. The hosts have now lost their last two league matches, having drawn 0:0 against Al-Bukeiriah before that.
Al-Ula's recent form includes victories over Al-Jabeen and Al-Fateh, though they also suffered defeats to Crystal Palace and Como in other competitions. Their consistency in the First Division suggests they are weighing up a move toward the top of the standings, while the hosts have hit a wall.