William Troost-Ekong performed a pivotal function in Al Kholood’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq within the Saudi Professional League on Friday, Soccernet.ng experiences.
The Nigerian worldwide delivered a game-winning help deep into stoppage time, serving to his facet transfer out of the relegation zone in an exhilarating encounter.
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The match unfolded dramatically.
Al Kholood took the lead within the twenty sixth minute when Jackson Muleka coolly transformed from the penalty spot.
Al Ettifaq, that includes stars like Moussa Dembélé and Georginio Wijnaldum and coached by Liverpool legend Gerrard responded virtually instantly.
The hosts equalised on the hour mark, with Wijnaldum ending from shut vary after Dembélé’s intelligent help.
The second half introduced extra fireworks.
Myziane Maolida restored Al Kholood’s lead within the 54th minute, however the house facet fought again but once more. Dembélé levelled the rating at 2-2 with a 96th-minute penalty, seemingly salvaging some extent for Al Ettifaq.
Nevertheless, within the tenth minute of added time, Troost-Ekong stepped as much as present the decisive second.
The 31-year-old centre-back, who had been spectacular together with his defensive duties, delivered a wonderfully weighted lengthy ball to Maolida, who lifted the successful objective over the goalkeeper from outdoors the field to safe a significant victory for Al Kholood.
Tremendous Eagles captain Troost-Ekong can be notably impressed together with his all-round show within the encounter for Noureddine Zekri’s facet.
Defensively, he was rock-solid, finishing 5 clearances, one blocked shot, and one interception.
The previous Watford defender additionally gained two floor duels and one aerial contest, whereas exhibiting his reliability below strain.
Offensively, Troost-Ekong made his mark with the help that determined the match, additional underlining his potential to impression video games at each ends of the pitch.
2025 BLOOD DEY HOT+3 pic.twitter.com/lybfrLcyMd
— William Troost-Ekong (M.O.N) (@WTroostEkong) January 10, 2025
After the sport, Troost-Ekong took to his social media account to share a video highlighting his performances within the match, with the caption, “2025 blood dey sizzling +3″
The victory lifts Al Kholood to thirteenth within the league with 13 factors from 14 matches, one level away from the relegation zone.
With 16 video games left to play, the battle for survival stays fierce, as groups from eighth place downward are nonetheless in peril.
Al Kholood will goal to take care of this momentum after they host Al Ahli of their subsequent league recreation on Wednesday.
