Al-Hazm recorded their first victory of the season in a turbulent third round of the Elite League that saw multiple heavyweight clubs falter. The defending champions delivered a commanding 3-1 performance against Al-Feiha, finally clicking into gear after opening their campaign with a defeat and sitting out the second round due to a postponed fixture.
Elite League's Round of Upsets
The division's established powers struggled to find consistency. Al-Nassr fell 2-1 to Al-Fateh in one of the round's standout shocks, with Abdulaziz Al-Fawaz scoring both goals to engineer the upset. Meanwhile, league leaders Al-Hilal tasted defeat for the first time, losing 2-1 to Al-Taawoun in a result that rattled the competition's hierarchy. Al-Ahli could manage only a 2-2 draw against Al-Jabalain, extending a pattern of dropped points among the traditional heavyweights.
The chaos created opportunities for others. Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Ittihad emerged as the round's most prolific attacking sides, combining for eight goals across their respective victories. Al-Qadisiyah defeated Al-Ettifaq 4-2 while Al-Ittihad dismantled Al-Wehda 4-1. Ammar Al-Ghamdi continued his run of form for Al-Ittihad, scoring in consecutive matches. Al-Kholood proved more defensively resilient, blanking Al-Orobah 3-0 to claim the round's only clean sheet, with Abdullah Al-Ajyan opening his account with a brace.
Notable Performances and Scorelines
- Al-Hazm 3-1 Al-Feiha: Amadou Diang scored twice in the champions' breakthrough victory
- Al-Qadisiyah 4-2 Al-Ettifaq: High-scoring thriller highlights attacking firepower
- Al-Ittihad 4-1 Al-Wehda: Comfortable win showcases depth in the squad
- Al-Kholood 3-0 Al-Orobah: Only shutout of the round demonstrates defensive solidity
- Al-Faisaly 1-1 Al-Najma, Al-Tadamon 2-1 Al-Khaleej, Damac 1-1 Al-Riyadh: Tight contests elsewhere
The Elite League's competitive balance continues to shift. With Al-Hilal no longer unbeaten and Al-Hazm awakening to challenge for honours, the Saudi top flight remains wide open heading into the fourth round of fixtures.
