In video: a crazy night in Saudi Arabia as Al-Ettifaq refuse to die and deny Al-Qadsiah top spot
The Eastern Province derby lit up Dammam. Al-Qadsiah and Al-Ettifaq served up a footballing epic in the seventh round of the Saudi Roshn League, sharing six goals in a thrilling three-all draw, and Al-Qadsiah threw away a golden chance to go top of the table.
A Qadsiah storm in three minutes
Brendan Rodgers set Al-Qadsiah up in his trademark style, built on lethal counter-attacks and blistering speed.
Three minutes was all it took to stun their guests. In the 12th minute, the outstanding full-back Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat surged forward and picked out Julian Quinones with a precise pass, and the Mexican, last season's top scorer, brilliantly turned it into the net.
Barely three minutes later, the same scene played out again. Bonsu Baah drove another counter and slipped the ball into the box for Mateo Retegui, who made it 2-0 in the 15th minute and set the Al-Qadsiah stands alight with chants of "the Dammam storm is blowing".
The numbers behind the stars back up that attacking brilliance. Abu Al-Shamat, a right-back by trade, already has six goal contributions in seven matches, three goals and three assists.
Quinones, meanwhile, took his tally to four contributions with three goals and one assist, while Retegui kept up his fine form with six goals in eight matches across all competitions.
The Knight of Al-Dahna refuses to surrender
Al-Ettifaq, nicknamed the Knight of Al-Dahna, had other ideas. In the 26th minute, an organised move began with Ivorian Abdullah and ran through a clever touch from N'Golo Kante before the ball reached Bersant Celina, who brilliantly pulled one back.
The pressure kept coming after the break. Alvaro Medran levelled it in the 64th minute, turning the derby on its head amid hysterical joy in the green stands and the famous commentator's cry of "your knight has returned to you, and he is still in the saddle of his steed".
A crazy scenario in the final minutes
Just as everyone settled in for a draw, substitute Mohammed Hamad Al-Qahtani stole the limelight. His strike in the 81st minute put Al-Qadsiah back in front and had the Knights of Khobar believing they had settled the top clash.
Al-Ettifaq hit back quickly and lethally. Jordan Larsson netted the third equaliser in the 85th minute, settling a crazy derby at three goals apiece.
Al-Qadsiah squander top spot
This thrilling draw cost Al-Qadsiah top spot. They moved to 16 points from seven matches, five wins, one draw and one defeat, having scored sixteen and conceded eight. That leaves them second behind leaders Al-Ittihad on 17, and just one point clear of third-placed Al-Hilal, who have fifteen points from six matches.
Al-Ettifaq, for their part, climbed to eleven points in seventh, rewarded for great character and a commendable comeback against one of the strongest teams in the league this season.
