Calvo nets brace to lead Al-Ettifaq to thriller victory over Al Najma
The Knights of Ad-Dahna secured a breath-taking 4–3 victory over Al Najma on Thursday afternoon, with former Loon Francisco Calvo proving to be the difference-maker. In a match that swung back and forth until the final whistle, Calvo’s offensive contributions from the backline provided the edge Al-Ettifaq needed to escape Unaizah with all three points.
Match recap
The contest began with Al-Ettifaq asserting their authority early as Nasser Al-Haleel opened the scoring in the 27th minute. The momentum stayed with the visitors when Moussa Dembélé doubled the lead in the 39th minute, seemingly putting Al-Ettifaq in total control before the interval.
However, Al Najma refused to fold at home. The hosts launched a furious second-half comeback with goals from Rakan Rajeh Altulayhi and Ali Jasim in a span of just one minute, leveling the score at 2–2. The match turned into a shootout from that point forward. While Al Najma found a third through Lázaro in the 87th minute to keep things tense, the heroic efforts of the Al-Ettifaq defensive unit—led by their goal-scoring center-back—ultimately sealed the result.
Calvo’s performance
While he is primarily tasked with anchoring the defense, Calvo’s ability to impact the game in the opposing penalty area was on full display today. His clinical finishing and leadership earned him Man of the Match honors from FotMob, marking one of his most productive outings since moving to the Saudi Pro League.
- Brace from the back: Calvo scored his first goal in the 42nd minute to give his side a cushion before halftime. He followed it up with a second strike in the 59th minute, showing elite positioning on a set-piece delivery.
- Man of the Match: His two-goal performance combined with his defensive work rate earned him the highest rating on the pitch, a rare feat for a defender in such a high-scoring affair.
- Defensive resilience: Despite conceding three goals as a unit, Calvo was instrumental in organizing the backline during Al Najma’s final desperate push, recording several key clearances in stoppage time.
- Aerial threat: Consistent with his time as a Loon, he was the primary target for every Al-Ettifaq corner, causing chaos in the Al Najma box throughout the 90 minutes.
Stats
- Minutes played: 90
- Goals: 2
- Clearances: 5
- Aerial duels won: 6
- FotMob rating: 9.1 (Man of the Match)
With these three points, Al-Ettifaq continues to solidify their position in the top half of the standings. For Calvo, this performance serves as a reminder of the “unicorn” skillset he brought to Minnesota—a defender with the heart of a striker. As the season progresses, his veteran presence remains the most vital component of Steven Gerrard’s defensive strategy.
