{"id":292779,"date":"2023-09-17T00:35:54","date_gmt":"2023-09-17T00:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=292779"},"modified":"2023-09-17T00:35:54","modified_gmt":"2023-09-17T00:35:54","slug":"al-ahli-3-2-al-taawoun-saint-maximin-scores-stunning-winner-for-hosts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/al-ahli-3-2-al-taawoun-saint-maximin-scores-stunning-winner-for-hosts\/","title":{"rendered":"Al-Ahli 3-2 Al-Taawoun: Saint-Maximin scores stunning winner for hosts"},"content":{"rendered":"
Former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez\u00a0continued his successful run in the Saudi Pro League after securing an early assist against Al-Taawoun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roberto Firmino\u00a0and Riyad Mahrez both started for the Saudi club, alongside Newcastle star Allan Saint Maximin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Saint-Maximin netted a stunning winner from outside the box, folllowed by a spectacular somersaulting celebration to wow his new Saudi Pro League fans\u00a0<\/p>\n
Al-Ahli took an early lead to make it 2-0, though the gap was closed swiftly, thanks to goals from Joao Pedro Pereira dos Santos and Musa Barrow.<\/p>\n
Into the second half, Allan Saint-Maximin struck gold from outside the box with a stunning winner that clinched the eventual 3-2 victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Riyad Mahrez moved from Manchester City to Al-Ahli after winning the treble last year<\/p>\n
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Saint-Maximin scored the winning goal for his new side with a strike from outside the box<\/p>\n
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The Frenchman made over 100 appearances for Newcastle after moving from Ligue 1 side Nice<\/p>\n
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Firmino and Mahrez started for the Saudi club, alongside Newcastle star Allan Saint Maximin<\/p>\n
Al-Ahli:<\/span> (4-2-3-1) Mendy, Majrashi, Iba\u00f1ez, Hindi, Al-Ammar, Al-Majhad, Kessie, Mahrez, Veiga, Saint-Maximin, Firmino<\/p>\n Subs:<\/span>\u00a0Alhurayji (36), Al-Nabit (61), Al-Zubaidi, Alrashidi (84), Al Hamad, Aljohani, Yaslam (83), Al-Asmari, Abdulaziz Abdo<\/p>\n Goalscorers: <\/span>Hindi (4), Al-Ahmed OG (23)<\/p>\n Cards:<\/span> Majrashi (27), Iba\u00f1ez (60), Hindi (87, 90+5 Red), Alhurayji (90+10)<\/p>\n Al- Taawoun:<\/span> (4-3-3) Maylson, Al-Ghamdi, Girotto, Al-Ahmed, Faqeehi, Flavio, El Mahdioui, Medran, Mateus, Pereira dos Santos, Bahusayn<\/p>\n Subs: <\/span>Al-Saluli (46), Barrow (46), Al Roqi, Al-Shammeri (83), Abdulrazzaq (75), Mohammed Al Fiqi, Aldhulayfi, Madani, Mohamed (83)<\/p>\n Goalscorers: <\/span>Pereira dos Santos (45+3), Barrow (51)<\/p>\n Cards:<\/span> Flavio (66)<\/p>\n The Frenchman joined Al-Ahli for a reported fee of around \u00a323million, in amongst a wave of Premier League\u00a0stars making the swap to the Saudi Pro League for eye-watering fees.<\/p>\n The winger, 26, registered his first goal as an Al-Ahli player, having made six appearances for his new club so far.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Chelsea’s ex-goalkeeper Edouard Mendy started for Al-Ahli, though failed to stop shots from Pereira dos Santos and Musa Barrow of Al-Taawoun.<\/span><\/p>\n Saint-Maximin’s late strike went onto clinch the three points for the Saudi Pro League side.\u00a0<\/p>\n Musa Barrow thought he had secured himself a brace when he hit the back of the net in stoppage time.\u00a0<\/p>\n VAR ruled out the goal, securing the win for Al-Ahli after the club spent big this summer in their hopes to challenge Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr for the title.\u00a0<\/p>\n Abdulbasit Hindi was sent off in stoppage time, alongside Spanish midfielder Alvaro Medran – with both teams down to ten-men in added time.\u00a0<\/p>\n Al-Ahli sit third in the league, while Al-Taawoun are close behind them in fourth.\u00a0<\/p>\n