A storm was brewing in the sands of Saudi Arabia, the spectators of the Saudi Pro League were ready to witness the face-off, an epic standoff that echoed across the desert. It was Al-Fateh pitted against Al-Shabab; two titans in their own right, squaring off in the heart of the world's largest sand desert.
It all began with the 15th-minute thunderbolt from Al-Fateh's talisman, Mourad Batna! The ball was whipped in by Lucas Zelarayán and Batna treated it with the might of Thor’s hammer, smashing it into the net. The Al-Fateh side erupted in jubilation, their voices forming a chorus that echoed across the stadium. The opponent team Al-Shabab, however, the warriors of the league were not ready to go down just yet.
The dice of the game rolled, with Iago Santos receiving a yellow card at the 32-minute mark, adding a tint of caution to Al-Fateh's aggressive play. Time ebbed on, bringing a 6-minute injury time and a yellow card awarded to Moteb Al-Harbi, adding fuel to the palpable tension simmering on the field.
The half time sounded its horn with Al-Fateh triumphantly keeping the lead with a score of 1-0. Nevertheless, Al-Shabab, the persistent challengers, were not ready to admit their defeat.
With a signature roar, the second half began. At the 58th minute, Al-Shabab retaliated. Their knight in shining armor, Abdullah Radif, with the aid of an unknown benefactor, landed a staggering goal, drawing the battleline at par! Al-Fateh found their lead slipping away but they held hope, the game was not over.
Both teams saw more yellow cards awarded - Al-Fateh's Abbas Sadiq Alhassan at 64', Mohammed Al-Fuhaid at 66' and Lucas Zelarayán at 79'. The game was getting hotter, sweat and sand mixing, creating a mudslide of a game. The 90-minute mark added another six minutes of injury time and a yellow card to Nader Abdullah Al Sharari, validating the saying, to lose without danger is to triumph without glory!
The final whistle pierced the roars of the euphoric crowd, ending the match with a score of 1-1. A battle fiercely fought by Al-Fateh and Al-Shabab ended in a draw, allowing these rivals to live another day and fight another match. It was a game devoid of a victor but filled with passion and gallantry. The sands of Saudi had absorbed the energy and the emotions emanating from it was nothing less than a brilliant piece of art!
