Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson started their Saudi careers with an unlikely victory - thanks to a Swede, a Frenchman and a dodgy goalkeeper.
2023/2024 Saudi Professional League
2-1
Match Report
Second-half goals from Robin Quaison and former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele, who both capitalised on fumbles from a hapless Nawaf Alaqidi, were enough to secure three points for Al-Ettifaq and wipe out old friend Sadio Mane’s fourth-minute tap-in, which had given visitors Al-Nassr the lead.
Dammam-based Al-Ettifaq are not one of the big four clubs given massive Saudi Public Investment Fund backing. And while there is, clearly, money to spend, their outlay has been nowhere near that of Monday night’s opponents.
But Al-Nassr, who were without an injured Cristiano Ronaldo, had played in a gruelling Arab Club Champions Cup Final on Saturday night which went to extra-time.
And, following a Gerrard team talk, the hosts bounced back from their early shock, thanks in no small part to Alaqidi who twice dropped crosses with fatal consequences.
Henderson was influential on a humid, scorching night with temperatures at kick-off of 36 Celsius.
He departed on 87 minutes to a standing ovation. Mane had a late strike ruled out for offside but Gerrard’s men held on – despite 14 minutes of additional time.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
4' GOAL! Al Ettifaq 0-1 Al Nassr FC (Mane)
8' Mane's long shot wide out
47' GOAL! Al Ettifaq 1-1 Al Nassr FC (Quaison)
53' GOAL! Al Ettifaq 2-1 Al Nassr FC (M Dembele)
76' Yahya's header hits the bar
89' OFFSIDE! Mane’s goal disallowed
Line-ups
Al Ettifaq XI: Henderson, Paulo Victor, Tisserand, Quaison, M Dembele, Ali Abdullah Hazazi, Jack Hendry, Abdullah Khateeb, Faisal Al-Ghamdi, Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Sanousi Al-Hawsawi
Subs: Abdullah Al-Oaisher, Vitinho, Mohammed Al-Kuwaykibi, Berat Özdemir, Hamed Al-Ghamdi, Mohammed Al-Dawsari, Meshal Alaeli, Mohammed Mahzari, Mohammed Yousef
Al Nassr FC XI: Mohammed Al-Fatil, Mane, Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem, Mukhtar Ali, Ghislain Konan, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Ali Al-Hassan, Nawaf Al-Boushal, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa
Subs: Waleed Abdullah, Mohammed Qasem, Amin Al-Bukhari, Sami Al-Najei, Abdulfattah Adam, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Ayman Yahya, Muhammed Sahlouli