An-Nasr secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Al-Wahda in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday evening. The win came in the second round of the regular season at the home ground. It was a match decided by a single moment of precision rather than sustained dominance.
Al-Wahda appeared to have equalised before half-time when Z. Al Zaabi found the net in the 45th minute plus one. The goal was cancelled by VAR, leaving the visitors frustrated. A yellow card for K. Agudelo followed shortly after, then M. Hoibraaten went offside on the other side of the break.
C. Bedia made it count from the spot in the 54th minute. An-Nasr had created one big chance all evening, and they took it. The academy graduate marked his first start with a goal, though he was substituted himself 17 minutes later. By then the match had settled into its rhythm.
An-Nasr held 52 per cent possession and generated 1.26 expected goals from three shots on target. Al-Wahda offered little in return with 0.51 expected goals from two attempts on goal. The visitors made more tackles and blocked nine shots, but could not convert their pressure. An-Nasr ran the show in possession but dallied on the ball when it mattered.
The result moves An-Nasr to four points from three games, keeping them in eighth place. Al-Wahda remain on three points in tenth after their second defeat of the season. Neither side had much to separate them in the table before kickoff, and neither has gained ground by much.