Brazil’s Roberto Firmino scored a hat-trick to lead Al-Ahli to a 3-1 win over Al-Hazm in the opening match of the Saudi Professional Football League on Friday.
Firmino put Al-Ahly, who joined him in the current transfer window from Liverpool, ahead after six minutes, doubling the score three minutes later.
Al-Hazm’s Vincius Souza capitalized on a mistake by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to reduce the deficit with a quiet goal in the 50th minute, but the Brazilian went close for Al-Hazm to put the match out of reach. In the 72nd minute.
Ayman Tahman, Al-Hasmin’s goalkeeper, told Saudi Sports Company (SSC) channel, “Although the group of players is very impressive, our start was difficult. But the next is the best. God willing, we will get along. We can be a group in the future and compete with any team.”
On the difficulty of facing Firmino, he said: “Any player can be faced, but we were unlucky today.”
Al-Ahly fielded a core group that included the most prominent stars who joined its ranks in the current transfer window, namely Edouard Mendy at goalkeeper, Roger Ibanez at defense, Frank Casey at midfield, Riyad Mahrez in addition to a fiery attacking line-up. , Alain Saint-Maximin and Firminho.
When Firmino took advantage of Ali Majrashi’s cross and opened the scoring with a header from inside the area, the attacking line looked promising and outlasted Al-Hazm’s defense after six minutes.
Three minutes later, Firmino doubled the score with a shot from close range, capitalizing on a cross from Al-Ahli-bound Algerian Riyad Mahrez from England’s Manchester City.
Al-Hasm player Radi Al-Otaibi said, “The start was difficult, we still fit as a team and the preparatory camp was short. In the first 10 minutes the focus dropped, our net was very difficult and we gave away two goals. The next one is better, God willing.”
Mahrez almost scored a third goal late in the first half, but his effort went over the crossbar and the Algerian star was ruled offside by the referee.
Against the grain of the match, Sousa got his team back into the match in the 50th minute when he capitalized on an errant pass played by Mendy to shoot the ball past the French goalkeeper, who joined Al-Ahli from Chelsea.
Firmino scored Al-Hasmin’s first goal from close range at the first attempt, but the match referee disallowed the goal for offside in the 52nd minute.
Saint-Maximin almost confirmed his side’s lead with a quick counterattack, but his effort went wide of the crossbar.
Mahrez left in the 66th minute.
Firmino finally scored the third goal from close range, with the goalkeeper saving a header from the Brazilian.
“I am very happy to work with the current technical staff,” Al-Ahly coach Mathias Yassel told a press conference following the match. “Not enough time to prepare the team, this is my ninth day at the helm of the technical staff.”
“The performance was really good and we look forward to more to come.”
On the other hand, Al-Hazm coach Philippe Gouveia said, “My advice to the players before the match was not to give up any goals. We had the ball in the last period of the match and got eight corner kicks.”
“It was the quality of Al-Ahli players’ performance that made the difference in the end. We will try to strengthen the team’s ranking in the coming period.”
From now on we will think about the next match, which will be at home, which is good.
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