In a dramatic Monday evening clash at the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium, Al-Ettifaq suffered a frustrating 2–1 defeat at the hands of Al-Khaleej. Despite an ideal start for Steven Gerrard’s side, the Knights of Ad-Dahna were unable to capitalize on their early lead, ending their unbeaten streak in a match that saw a late twist of fate.
Match recap
The match exploded into life in the opening minute when Moussa Dembélé found the back of the net, giving Al-Ettifaq a 1–0 lead just 60 seconds after kickoff. The hosts looked poised to dominate, but Al-Khaleej displayed significant defensive resilience to stay within striking distance.
The momentum shifted just before the interval. In the 45th minute, Kostas Fortounis leveled the score for Al-Khaleej with a clinical finish. The second half became a tactical grind, with Al-Ettifaq pushing for a winner but struggling to break down a disciplined visitor block. The heartbreak for the home fans arrived in the 86th minute; Al-Khaleej found their decisive second goal—credited to a deflection off Jack Hendry—to secure all three points and leave Dammam with a massive road victory.
Calvo’s performance
Following his massive two-goal performance last week, Francisco Calvo was again a focal point of the Al-Ettifaq lineup. Occupying his established role in the defense, Calvo was tasked with containing a persistent Al-Khaleej attack before being withdrawn as part of a final, desperate tactical shift following the go-ahead goal by the visitors.
- Defensive shift: Calvo was active in the air and recorded several key interceptions in the first half as Al-Ettifaq looked to preserve their early lead.
- Tactical substitution: Calvo was subbed off in the 87th minute, replaced by Khalid Al-Ghannam just seconds after Al-Khaleej took the lead, as Steven Gerrard threw everything forward for a late equalizer.
- Set-piece threat: Continuing his trend as a target man, Calvo nearly found a second-half breakthrough from a corner, but his headed effort was narrowly off target.
- Disciplined outing: Calvo managed to avoid the referee’s book in a physical contest that saw multiple teammates receive yellow cards.
Stats
- Minutes played: 87
- Clearances: 4
- Interceptions: 2
- Aerial duels won: 5
- FotMob rating: 6.8
The result is a setback for Al-Ettifaq, who were looking to bridge the gap toward the top five of the Saudi Pro League. They currently remain in 7th place with 22 points. Al-Ettifaq will look to recalibrate quickly as they prepare for their next fixture, hoping to find the defensive consistency that has defined their recent successful run.
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