Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahli Saud SC have collected another last-minute win, all but securing their promotion to the Saudi Pro League.
It was the 10th successive wins against Wednesday evening’s opponents, secured via a goal in the 97th minute.
Al Ahli scored the opener in the fifth minute of first-half injury-time via Hassan Al-Ali to lead at the break.
However, Jean-Marc Makusu equalised for the home side in the 55th minute, with things staying level until Al Ahli’s late winner from Ryad Boudebouz.
Al Ahli moved back to the top of the log with 65 points, three points ahead of second-placed Al Akhdood, who only play on Friday
Mosimane’s side are now also 15 points ahead of Al-Faisaly, who have one game in hand, in the non-promotion spot, and beat them based on the head-to-head record.
While it was initially thought that technically Al Ahli still needed to wait for Al-Faisaly, who are coached by former Kaizer Chiefs coach Giovanni Solinas, and still have five games outstanding, to theoretically collect 15 points, Al Ahli have already secured promotion based on their better head-to-head record over Al-Faisaly.
The drew 2-2 recently and beat them 2-1 in January, meaning Al-Faisaly cannot overtake them on the log, even in the unlikely case they would manage to equal Al Ahli’s points tally, which would need them to win all their five games and for Al Ahli to lose their’s.
Overall, Mosimane has picked up 16 wins, six draws and just two defeats since taking charge of Al Ahli.
Article updated on 4 May.
