Tello's double sinks Gerrard's Al Ettifaq, Al Riyadh enter top four | OneFootball

Al Okhdood v Al Riyadh

Toze’s second-half goal was the difference at Prince Hathloul Sports City as Al Riyadh came away from Najran with a valuable 1-0 victory over home side Al Okhdood to climb into the top four of the Roshn Saudi League.

The visitors could have taken the lead inside four minutes under heavy rain, when Bernard Mensah broke free down the left and crossed for Hussain Al Nowaiqi whose finish looked headed for the top corner had it not been for a heroic goal-line clearance by Jamaican defender Damion Lowe.

Goalkeeper Milan Borjan had to be at his flexible best to parry the ball away after a fine passing move saw Ibarhima Kone set-up Sebastian Pedroza with an exquisite backheel pass that the Colombian stuck nicely but was denied by the veteran Canadian keeper.

Al Okhdood thought they had taken the lead six minutes before the break when Kone controlled Awadh Khaims’ long pass inside the box and fired home on the turn, but the Malian forward had been flagged offside in the build-up.

The winning goal arrived eight minutes into the second half when Mensah led a quick counter attack down the right before teeing up Toze to sweep home his first goal of the campaign.

Between them, Mensah and Toze, who had joined Al Riyadh after excelling for relegated sides Al Tai and Al Hazem respectively, have seven goal contributions already for the high-flying capital club.

Al Fateh v Al Kholood

Bottom-of-the-table Al Fateh finally ended their four-match losing streak by picking up a draw at home against 15th place Al Kholood after a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Al Ahsa.

The earliest test for goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe came after two minutes when the RSL’s longest-serving player Mohammed Al Fuhaid crossed for Sofiane Bendebka whose header was central, allowing the Brazilian to pick it up comfortably.

The away side opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Aliou Dieng applied the high press, recovering the ball deep inside Al Fateh areas and feeding Spanish playmaker Alex Collado who curled home his fourth goal of the campaign to continue his red-hot form with the side he joined form Al Okhdood in the summer.

Jackson Muleka nearly replicated Collado’s effort halfway through the second half but saw his attempt denied by Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Szappanos to limit the damage to one goal at the break.

Eight minutes into the second half, Cape Verdean forward Djaniny latched onto a long pass, dribbling past Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong and firing into the top corner to bring the game level.

The points shared mean newly promoted Al Kholood remain just afloat of the relegation zone at this early stage, while Al Fateh remain rooted to the bottom of the table having picked up points for the first time since matchweek two.

Al Ettifaq v Al Orobah

Former FC Barcelona winger Cristian Tello was the star as new arrivals Al Orobah downed Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq 3-2 in a thrilling encounter in Dammam.

The Spaniard bagged a brace to seal a comeback after the hosts had a man sent-off early in the second half.

The La Masia product opened the scoring in stunning fashion after 12 minutes, picking up Emmanuel Boateng’s cushioned pass and curling with venom towards the top corner for his first of the night.

Just before the first half ended, former AS Roma prospect Joao Costa restored parity, applying a calm finish into the bottom corner after a through pass from fellow Brazilian Vitinho.

Al Ettifaq went into the dressing rooms a man down after Saudi international forward Abdullah Radif received a direct red card for stamping on Fahad Al Rashidi, but the hosts did manage a quick response before the halftime whistle thanks to Gini Wijnaldum’s persistence. The Dutchman picked up Moussa Dembele’s pass and fought off the defender before powering home.

Wijnaldum’s strike was the last positive news for Gerrard on the night as his side came crashing in the second period.

Club captain Johann Berg Gudmundsson equalised for Al Orobah in the 74th minute with a worldie from 30 yards out into the top corner, before Tello added his fourth goal of the season, converting Nawaf Al Qumairi’s cross from the right into the bottom corner to win it with six minutes left on the clock.

Al Orobah’s third win in their last four matches takes them into tenth place, just three points behind the top four and only behind Gerrard’s side on goal difference.