Al Riyadh 2–1 Al Taawoun | Pro League | October 24, 2026

Result Summary

Al Riyadh claimed a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Al Taawoun at home, defying both the statistical narrative of the match and pre-match expectations. Goals from Teddy Lia Okou and Bernard Mensah proved decisive, with Nedim Bajrami's late reply for Al Taawoun arriving just two minutes after Mensah's strike — too little, too late for the visitors.

Match Analysis

On paper, the statistics painted a picture that favoured Al Taawoun emphatically. The visitors dominated ball possession at 62%, registered 93 attacks to Al Riyadh's 70, and created 65 dangerous attacks compared to just 33 from the hosts. Their 10 corner kicks against Al Riyadh's 2 further illustrates how thoroughly Al Taawoun controlled large phases of the contest.

Yet football is rarely won on possession alone. Al Riyadh proved devastatingly clinical, converting their limited opportunities with precision. Their 13 total shots yielded 6 on target, while Al Taawoun managed only 4 shots on target from 10 total — a conversion efficiency that ultimately told the story of the afternoon. Coach Maurício Corrêa Dulac's side demonstrated the value of defensive organisation and swift transition against a side that, despite controlling the ball, lacked the cutting edge to punish them consistently.

The opening goal arrived just before the break, when Teddy Lia Okou finished with his left foot in the 39th minute, assisted by Bernard Mensah — a combination that would prove central to Al Riyadh's victory. A VAR check on Al Taawoun's Abderrazak Hamdallah at the 45th minute denied any prospect of a leveller before half-time, keeping the scoreline intact at the interval.

The second half saw Al Taawoun's coach Vuk Rašović turn to his bench aggressively, introducing Younes El Bahraoui, Nedim Bajrami, Mohammed Ahmed Al-Saadi, and Rakan Rajeh Altulayhi in a bid to unlock the Al Riyadh defence. The triple substitution at the 72nd minute injected urgency, but it was Al Riyadh who struck next — Bernard Mensah doubling the lead in the 76th minute with a composed right-foot finish. Bajrami, introduced just minutes earlier, immediately made his mark by pulling one back for Al Taawoun in the 78th minute, setting up a nervy finale. However, Al Riyadh held firm through the closing stages, with Ibrahim Mahnashi picking up a late yellow card for Al Taawoun in stoppage time as frustration set in.

An early Al Riyadh substitution at the 17th minute — Hassan Al-Ali replacing Hussain Al-Shurafa — added a footnote of disruption to their afternoon, yet the team adapted well under Corrêa Dulac's guidance.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast leaned towards an Al Taawoun victory, assigning them a 47.5% probability of winning against Al Riyadh's 27%. The prediction was ultimately incorrect. While the underlying statistical dominance Al Taawoun showed during the match partially aligned with the forecast's reasoning, it underestimated Al Riyadh's defensive resilience and their ability to be ruthlessly efficient in front of goal. A confidence rating of 57/100 reflected genuine uncertainty, and on this occasion, the match rewarded the counter-attacking side over the possession-heavy one.

Key Takeaways

• Bernard Mensah was the standout performer, contributing an assist and a goal to shape the result decisively.
• Al Riyadh's efficiency — 6 shots on target from 13 attempts — was the defining factor despite being outplayed territorially.
• Al Taawoun's volume without precision remains a concern; 65 dangerous attacks producing only one goal highlights a finishing problem.
• Rašović's side will reflect on