Al-Diriyah secured a 2-1 victory over Al-Fateh in the Saudi Pro League's sixth round of matches on Tuesday evening at Maidan Tamvel Al-Ula. The result leaves the hosts rooted to the bottom of the table while the visitors move further clear of relegation trouble. It was a match where efficiency mattered more than possession, and by then it was already too late for Al-Fateh to change the narrative.
Darwin Nuñez opened the scoring with a penalty in the 28th minute, converting from the spot after Al-Fateh had been awarded the spot-kick. Faisal Abdulwahed equalised for the hosts just seven minutes later, giving them a brief window of hope. The momentum shifted again before the interval when Adil Boulbina restored Al-Diriyah's lead from the penalty spot in the 45th minute, though his second attempt in the 65th was cancelled by VAR.
Al-Fateh dominated possession at 60 per cent and created more chances on paper, registering 1.35 expected goals against Al-Diriyah's 2.53. The hosts mustered four shots on target compared to three for the visitors, yet the efficiency gap told the real story. Al-Diriyah were reduced to ten men at times but managed to carve out their opportunities when it counted.
The match saw numerous substitutions in the second half, with both managers turning to fresh legs. Al-Fateh brought on Mihai Lixandru and Abdul Rahman Al Khaibari in the 71st minute, while Darwin Nuñez and Abdulelah Al-Malki came off for the visitors. Clayton diandy and Enzo Millot also entered the fray late on for Al-Diriyah.
For Al-Fateh, the defeat extends their winless run to six matches across all competitions. They had drawn their previous three games before this loss, and cannot afford another slip if they want to avoid serious relegation concerns. The hosts sit 16th with just three points from five games, a position that demands immediate improvement.
Al-Diriyah meanwhile move into 10th place with seven points, a result that gives them breathing room at this stage of the season. The visitors have not won since their match against Al-Khazem, but this victory provides momentum heading into the next round of fixtures.
