Lázaro's Late Penalty Caps Al Ettifaq's Thrilling 4-3 Comeback

BURAIDAH, SAUDI ARABIA — In a pulsating Saudi Pro League encounter that will be remembered for years, Lázaro emerged as the ultimate hero with a nerveless 87th-minute penalty, completing one of the most remarkable comebacks of the season as Al Ettifaq stunned Al Najma 4-3 at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium. The Brazilian's ice-cool spot-kick was the culmination of an extraordinary second-half revival that saw the visitors dramatically overturn a two-goal deficit and claim all three points in a match that epitomized the unpredictable drama of top-flight football.

The match erupted into life in the 27th minute through the most unfortunate of circumstances. Nasser Al Haleel's attempted clearance took a cruel deflection off his own teammate, ricocheting into the bottom corner and gifting Al Najma an early advantage that sent the Buraidah faithful into rapturous celebration. The own goal seemed to inject confidence into the home side, who controlled the match's tempo with 51.9% possession and appeared comfortable in their defensive setup.

Al Ettifaq's response was both swift and devastating. Moussa Dembélé, the Malian striker known for his clinical finishing, leveled the scores in the 39th minute with a predatory strike, exploiting slack defending to rifle home from close range. While Dembélé's equalizer shifted the match's momentum, it was Francisco Calvo who truly announced Al Ettifaq's resurgence. The Costa Rican defender struck twice in quick succession—first with a towering header from a corner kick in the 42nd minute, then adding a thunderous drive just after halftime in the 59th minute that left the Al Najma goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

At 3-1 down, Al Najma faced the prospect of a humiliating home defeat. However, the hosts demonstrated remarkable character, launching a spirited fightback that would set up a grandstand finish. Tactical adjustments at halftime proved inspired, with Ali Jasim and Abdulaziz Al Harabi introduced to inject fresh attacking impetus. The substitutions paid immediate dividends when Rakan Altulayhi pulled one back in the 72nd minute, sliding home from six yards after excellent build-up play down the right flank.

The King Abdullah Sport City Stadium erupted just sixty seconds later when Ali Jasim completed the comeback, nodding home a perfectly weighted cross to level the scores at 3-3. The goal sparked wild celebrations among home supporters, who sensed their team could complete an unlikely turnaround. Despite possession nearly equally shared at 51.9%-48.1%, it was Al Ettifaq who displayed greater clinical edge when it mattered most.

Al Najma's goalkeeper was a standout performer throughout the encounter, making five crucial saves to keep his team in contention. His heroic display included a spectacular diving stop to deny Dembélé a second goal and several important interventions that prevented the scoreline from becoming more lopsided. The shot statistics revealed an evenly contested battle, with both teams registering 16 attempts, though Al Ettifaq's superior accuracy saw them land eight efforts on target compared to Al Najma's five.

The match's decisive moment arrived with just three minutes remaining when Al Ettifaq were awarded a penalty following a clumsy challenge in the box. Lázaro stepped up with the weight of expectation bearing down, delivering when his team needed him most by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and completing the remarkable turnaround. His muted celebration spoke volumes, perhaps acknowledging the cruel yet beautiful unpredictability of football that had just broken Al Najma's hearts.

The encounter's physical intensity was evident in the foul count, with Al Ettifaq committing 14 infractions compared to Al Najma's five, resulting in two yellow cards for the visitors. Khalid Al-Ghannam and Moussa Dembélé found their names in the referee's book as tensions boiled over in the closing stages, reflecting the high stakes and emotional investment from both sides.

This victory continues Al Ettifaq's impressive recent form, building on their strong away performances that have become a hallmark of their season. The ability to come from behind demonstrates the squad's mental fortitude, while attacking contributions from unexpected sources like Calvo highlight the team's tactical versatility and squad depth.

Looking ahead, Al Najma will travel to face Al Hazem on January 12, seeking to bounce back from this heartbreaking defeat. Al Ettifaq, meanwhile, will host Al Khaleej on the same date, hoping to maintain their momentum with another strong performance and continue their remarkable run of form.