NEOM vs Al-Ettifaq 0-1

Al-Ettifaq took all three points with a 1-0 win in Tabuk, Abdullah Al-Khateeb settling it in the 82nd minute after coming on at half-time. NEOM had more of the ball and more chances, but they could not turn that into a goal.

The first half was short on clear openings and ended goalless, with the only booking going to Alexandre Lacazette in the 32nd minute. NEOM 0-0 Al-Ettifaq at the break.

Al-Ettifaq made changes after the interval, with Radhi Al Oteibi replaced by Abdullah Al-Khateeb on 45 minutes and Sultan Ali Huran giving way to Matija Gluscevic on 54 minutes. The visitors then sent on Yasir Al-Shammari for Khalid Al-Ghannam on 60 minutes, and two more changes on 78 minutes brought on Abdalellah Hawsawi and Ziyad Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, the latter providing the assist for Al-Khateeb's winner two minutes later. NEOM also made three double substitutions, but their late changes in the 81st and 89th minutes came too late to alter the scoreline.

The numbers point to a home side that had 58% of the possession, 506 passes to Al-Ettifaq's 378, 11 shots to 4, 4 on target to 1, 10 corners to 2 and 0.72 expected goals to 0.14. NEOM also had 4 offsides and 0 saves, while Al-Ettifaq had 14 fouls to 12 and won despite being second best in most of the statistical categories.

Only three yellow cards were shown. Lacazette was booked for NEOM in the 32nd minute, while Abdoulaye Kanté and Matija Gluscevic were cautioned for Al-Ettifaq in the 60th and 81st minutes. There was no red card.