Al-Diriyyah and Al-Khlood played out a 1:1 draw at the Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium on Wednesday evening. The result keeps both sides within touching distance in the Pro League standings, with the visitors holding a single point advantage. The match was decided by two late goals and a penalty that never materialised.
Al-Diriyyah took the lead in the seventy-first minute when A. Al Aliwa found the net. The visitors had been denied a spot-kick two minutes earlier, with VAR cancelling a penalty appeal against Iker Kortajarena. By then the hosts had already built momentum, controlling 58 per cent of possession and pushing forward with eight corners against one for the away side.
Al-Khlood responded in the eighty-third minute through M. Al Nemer. To be fair, the visitors had created more clear-cut opportunities despite their lesser share of the ball. They registered four big chances compared to one for the hosts, and their expected goals figure of 1.6 told a different story than the 0.69 recorded by Al-Diriyyah.
The statistics reveal a mismatch between control and conversion. The home side completed 524 passes and dominated the midfield, yet managed only one shot on target from six attempts inside the penalty area. Al-Khlood, with fewer passes and less possession, hit the target four times from nine shots in the box.
After four matches Al-Khlood sit fourth with eight points, while Al-Diriyyah remain sixth on seven. The draw extends a mixed run for the hosts, who have won one and lost two of their last three league games. The visitors look steadier, having drawn one and won two in the same period.
