Pitso Mosimane's Dramatic Promotion Chase Continues with 97th Minute Winner
Key Highlights :
Pitso Mosimane's promotion chase continued in dramatic fashion as his Al Ahli side unbelievably scored a sensational 97th minute winner to reclaim top spot in the title race. Wednesday's clash was Mosimane’s 25th match in charge of Al Ahli and the three points collected brought the club within a point of confirming promotion to the top tier.
The win was delivered courtesy of goals from Hassan Al-Ali and an injury time winner by Ryad Boudebouz in the 97th minute. The victory takes Al Ahli to 65 points from 30 games, and they will be guaranteed of that top spot until Friday when Al Akhdoud play their game in hand against fourth placed Al Hazm who have their own promotion ambitions. Al Hazm occupy the last promotion spot which is under threat from Giovanni Solinas’ team Al Faisaly who are fifth and five points behind. Al Faisaly also play on Friday against Najran in a game that they must win to keep their own priomotion hopes alive. Anything other than a win for Solinas on Friday will confirm Al Ahli’s promotion back to then Saudi Pro League where Cristiano Ronaldo now plays.
Beyond promotion, Mosimane also has league title interests to pursue and in that race has Al Akhdoud to worry about. Having won on Wednesday, it swings the pressure to Al Akhdoud who need to win go back to the top. After Al Akhdoud’s next fixture there will be four games remaining.
Having joined Al Ahli in September last year, Mosimane has now won 17, drawn six, and lost twice. He has gathered 57 points for the club and his remaining games are against Al Arabi (6th), Al Shoalah (18th and relegated), Al Qadisiah (13th), and Al Hazm (4th).
Al Ahli were champions of the Saudi Pro League as recent as the 2015/16 season but were unfortunate to sink last season along with Al Hazm and Al Faisaly after a disastrous campaign. They then started their campaign in the first division slowly under Robert Siboldi who then had to make way for Mosimane.
Mosimane has won trophies with every club that he has coached from SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ahly, and now has the Saudi first division in sight just months after moving to the Middle East. With the latest win, Al Ahli are now in pole position to reclaim their spot in the Saudi Pro League and with four games remaining, Mosimane will be hoping to solidify that promotion and maybe even win the league title.
