Al-Qadisiya took all three points away from Al-Dir'iya with a 2:0 win in the Pro-League's regular season fifth round at Al-Awwal Park Stadium on Wednesday. Mateo Retegui struck from the spot in the 51st minute before Julián Quiñones added a second in the 58th. The visitors moved up to third in the table, two points clear of the hosts who remain sixth.
And here's the thing about the penalty incident — Darwin Nuñez had one ruled out by VAR in the 12th minute, but Al-Qadisiya got their own spot-kick confirmed forty minutes later. Mohammed Hamad Al-Qahtani was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot after a review. Retegui stepped up and made no mistake.
By then Al-Dir'iya were already dealing with a setback. Idrissa Gueye picked up a yellow card in the 49th minute and would later come off for Enzo Millot in the 84th. The home side had tried to respond but their red card in stoppage time sealed the matter. Óscar Rodríguez was sent off for a second booking in the 96th minute.
The substitutions came thick and fast in the final quarter. Al-Dir'iya made five changes — Al-Qahtani, Lajami, Al-Sabiyani, Gueye and Millot all came off — while the visitors brought on Clayton diandy, Retegui and Christopher Bonsu Baah in the 86th minute. The manager clearly wanted fresh legs for the closing stages.
To be fair, the statistics told a story of away dominance. Al-Qadisiya held 60 per cent possession and created three big chances against the hosts' two. They registered four shots on target to Al-Dir'iya's two, though both sides managed only two saves for their keepers. The expected goals figures — 1.17 to 1.01 — suggest a tighter match than the scoreline.
The result ends Al-Dir'iya's run of two wins in a row and extends Al-Qadisiya's winning streak to three. The hosts have now lost twice in four games, while the visitors sit three points clear of fourth place with one game in hand. The old head settled them down after the red card, but there was little left to do.
