On matchday 4 of the Roshn Saudi League 2024, Al-Ahli and Damac faced each other. Al-Ahli secured a thrilling 4 - 2 victory over Damac thanks to the two late goals. Gabri Viega, Ivan Toney and Roberto Firmino were the goalscorers for Al Ahli as they secured all 3 points from the game.
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00:00Russian-Saudi League action comes from King Abdullah Sports City just north of Jeddah.
00:07Al Akhli straight back in action having opened their Asian Champions League campaign with a win on Monday
00:13and now taking on a Damac team aiming for successive league victories early in the season.
00:18Having seen off Al Akhdud a week ago, they make the trip up the west coast today.
00:23So many star names on show.
00:25Riyad Mahrez up against a fellow Algerian tonight.
00:30We'll see if they can do so. We are off and underway then in Jeddah.
00:38Damac in their change kit in the black.
00:41As we look at it, former right-to-left in this first period.
00:47They will be expecting, won't they, to have to withstand some pretty heavy pressure from Yosler's team from the start.
00:54Mourning forward in the mask, Kelly Mahrashi.
00:57Just the last seven games of last season.
00:59Through injury before returning to fitness, the former Al-Shabaab player.
01:03Here's Ivan Toni.
01:04And he is able to deliver the cross which is going to be touched in by Vega.
01:10Al Akhli hit the front.
01:15Looks up, sees Vega completely free in the box. The goalkeeper gets it all wrong.
01:19I praised the goalkeeper earlier for his reading of the through ball.
01:22He gets that all wrong and Vega just gets there in front.
01:24But it's a decent ball from Ivan Toni, it doesn't have to be brilliant.
01:27Vega gets there in front of the onrushing goalkeeper, gets his angles and his position all wrong.
01:32Really good slide from the youngster, puts his team 1-0 up.
01:35So simple though, turnover possession.
01:38Poor camp.
01:43By Al-Shabaab, who certainly had a job on his hands there.
01:47It's always likely, I guess, to end it in that sort of fashion.
01:58But Al Akhli have got from this free kick then.
02:02Empty to try and aim at again.
02:04Ibanez was rising, it was just over his head and then saved by Nitza when it came the goalkeeper's way.
02:09He had to react smartly, did the Romanian, to keep this one out.
02:14Toni arriving.
02:16Riyad Mahrez once more.
02:21It works.
02:22Toni, forced wide.
02:25And then a real scramble which just about is survived somehow by Dan Magnitsa.
02:30So grateful to be able to grab it on his own goal line.
02:34That was a little bit chaotic all of a sudden.
02:36Well, it's initially rolled into Ivan Toni from Riyad Mahrez.
02:39Ivan Toni does really well, but he just takes one extra touch.
02:42And you think that the chance is gone.
02:44That extra touch there he doesn't need, he just takes himself too wide.
02:48Goalkeeper does well, stands up, sends him wide.
02:51But Toni still manages to get the ball across.
02:53And then it goes through one defender's legs.
02:55They go to try and clear it.
02:56And it's Nkudu that comes in through another defender's legs.
02:59And then the goalkeeper actually finally manages to gratefully regain the ball on the goal line.
03:06Goes towards Diallo again here, trying to bring it down.
03:09He was just about able to, couldn't get the shot away.
03:11But a back-in by Stanchu.
03:14Just deflected wide.
03:16Nearly a big twist right at the end of this first half.
03:20Zamak knocking on the door in search of that equalising goal.
03:24He's been to the full throughout this first half as Stanchu, and he delivers.
03:28Some menace just cleared the head of Chafai.
03:32It's back in again, brilliantly!
03:34Oh, how about that from Faleta!
03:36Incredible!
03:38And that really has stunned the home side.
03:41His parent club, for whom he's never made a first-team appearance.
03:45Hence the lack of a celebration from Eamon Faleta here.
03:49But what a memorable moment for him.
03:51What a brilliant goal for the player on loan from Al Akhli.
03:55He's just scored a stunner against them to level this up.
04:02This is exactly what they've done.
04:04And almost in from Al-Burrakan.
04:07And still the threat, it's a cutback by Gabri Vega for Ivan Toni.
04:14Less than a minute of the second half,
04:16and Ivan Toni gets his first goal for Al Akhli.
04:20In the perfect position to profit, he's up and running.
04:24For his new club, in his new country.
04:27And they're back in front, conceding right at the end of the first half.
04:32Scoring right at the start of the second half.
04:37Solan going back infield here to Nkudu.
04:40That's played well, doesn't it, for Al Akhli in the season ahead.
04:45Those two have started, but more immediately a potential problem here.
04:51Al-Burrakan's challenge, bringing down Nkudu in dangerous territory.
04:56Thinkable angle here, whipped in by Stanchou,
04:59headed in by Chiappi, but it appeared from an offside position.
05:04He didn't really even start to celebrate.
05:07Flag is up.
05:08Found a little bit of space to surge into,
05:10and plays the pass for Diallo to bring it down big,
05:13saved Mendy out quickly to make himself big, and did well.
05:18Freitag importantly got a foot in there,
05:20and then it's floated forward threateningly for Nkudu.
05:24No room for him, but he will win the free-kick, he does get the foul.
05:29Certainly opening up the game, it's got a real tempo to it.
05:35Stanchou, it's brilliant!
05:37And there on the rebound it's in!
05:41From Chiappi.
05:43What an incredible hit from Stanchou.
05:46And then it's the skipper who scores on the follow-up,
05:49and for the second time in the game.
05:51Damaka back from behind, back-level at Al-Akhli.
05:55At 2-2.
05:57What an incredible free-kick by Stanchou.
06:02Some high achievers certainly out on the field,
06:04Firmino with the pass, and there's the chance for Ivan Toni.
06:09He can't quite take it this time.
06:11Lovely little link-up, as Firmino found him.
06:15And you really expected Toni to score here.
06:26Still, a little turn from him initially,
06:30but sticking to his task there,
06:33albeit ultimately he has conceded the free-kick.
06:37WHISTLE BLOWS
06:42From the corner, Keita, and it goes!
06:44And it is turned in!
06:46For what might just be the winning goal, or will it?
06:49Because the flag's up,
06:51and no sooner had they wheeled away in celebration
06:54than it's chalked off, they'll have another look on VAR,
06:57it's looked close.
07:00Here we go.
07:03Oh, he's gonna come and have a look for himself.
07:08Trying to determine who got the first contact,
07:10but the ball actually goes forward,
07:12so you'd think it was from the Al-Akhli player.
07:14It does look like it from there,
07:16but it could be deceptive, couldn't it?
07:18It could well be deceptive on the angles.
07:21Then you've got the question of was Firmino actually offside or not
07:24in the far post, because if he had been,
07:26we're gonna get a decision.
07:28He's had a lunch.
07:30Left to the referee to make the call,
07:33and he's given the goal.
07:35Real drama.
07:38And such disappointment for Damak,
07:40because Al-Akhli, for the third time in the game,
07:43deep, deep into stoppage time,
07:45to lead the game at 3-2.
07:51An incredible twist.
07:54GABRI VEGA!
07:56And there it's put in by Tony,
07:58but the offside flag is up.
08:00And I don't think this one will take quite as long to,
08:03who knows, to sort out, but yeah.
08:08There's the one from Vega, yeah.
08:10Loving Tony just offside.
08:12Similar where he scored his goal.
08:16He said he appeared to know it,
08:18it didn't prevent him from arguing otherwise.
08:21I think this is gonna be given, you know.
08:23It is.
08:24Ivan Tony has another goal.
08:26Al-Akhli have another goal.
08:28And it's 4-2 just before the finish.
08:32That one does count as well.
08:41League phase.
08:42Finally comes the full-time whistle.
08:45A lot of the drama coming in.
08:47Finally comes the full-time whistle.
08:50A lot of the drama came late.
08:52Two goals scored in stoppage time.
08:55Both that didn't count initially,
08:57but were given on review.
08:59The goals ultimately that have separated the sides here.
09:02Damak having twice previously battled back from behind,
09:05and got themselves on terms,
09:07got themselves in a position where they expected to earn some reward.
09:11There's clarification of the onside call,
09:14which is why Ivan Tony's second goal of the game.