Al-Sukkar Edge Al-Fayha in Tight Pro League Opener
Al-Sukkar and Al-Fayha met in the opening fixture of the Pro League season on Thursday evening, with the hosts securing a narrow 2:1 victory despite playing much of the second half with ten men. The match opened with Al-Sukkar striking first through A. Kone in the twenty-sixth minute, settling nerves early on. To be fair, the visitors responded well, with S. Benrahma pulling level just nine minutes later. And here's the thing — the game never really settled into a rhythm after that.
The first half had its moments, though neither side dominated possession for long stretches. Kone's opener came from sustained pressure, while Benrahma's response showed Al-Fayha's intent to compete from the outset. Al-Sukkar worked a short corner before the break, testing the visitors' defence without finding a way through. By then, the momentum had shifted slightly toward the hosts, who controlled more of the ball.
The complexion changed dramatically in the sixty-second minute when Ala'a Al-Hejji received a red card, reducing Al-Sukkar to ten men. It was a blow for the hosts, who had been pushing for a second goal. Al-Fayha tried to exploit the numerical advantage, but their lack of penetration meant they couldn't capitalise. The visitors were pinned back more than they pinned the hosts back, which surprised some observers.
Al-Sukkar held firm until the seventy-fifth minute when Hugo Moura found the winner, catching Al-Fayha on the break after they gifted the ball away. The stadium fell silent for the visitors as the hosts saw out the remainder of the match. Several substitutions followed, including A. Lacazette and M. Al Burayk for the home side, though neither could change the outcome. The result gives Al-Sukkar three points from their opening campaign.
The statistics tell a fuller story. Al-Sukkar enjoyed 54% possession and registered ten shots inside the penalty area compared to nine for the visitors. Both teams found the target five times, but Al-Fayha's accuracy was marginally higher at 38% versus 33%. The hosts made 558 passes with 494 successful, while the visitors completed 421 from 473 attempts. Blocked shots were five for Al-Sukkar against two for Al-Fayha.
In the table, Al-Sukkar sit fourth with six games played, four wins, and twelve points — though this is their first official fixture this season. Al-Fayha occupy eleventh place with five matches, one victory, two draws, and two defeats, totaling five points. The hosts have been in good form recently, winning three of their last five matches, while the visitors have struggled, taking just four points from their last five outings. This result puts Al-Sukkar in a strong position early on.