Al Fayha, NEOM Play to Stalemate in Saudi Pro League Opener

AL-MAJMA’AH, Saudi Arabia (Interstat) — In a tightly contested season opener that played out largely as predicted, Al Fayha Saudi Club and the visiting NEOM SC split the points in a 1-1 draw in Saudi Pro League action Wednesday at Al Majma’ah Sport City.

The result, which mirrored the exact scoreline forecast by Interstat’s game simulator, leaves both clubs with identical records to start the 2025-26 domestic campaign: zero wins, zero losses and one draw. Their overall records across all competitions also stand at 0-0-1.

The match featured decisive contributions from high-profile substitutes, with former French international Alexandre Lacazette opening the scoring for the visitors before Al Fayha’s Yassine Benzia leveled the match before halftime.

NEOM SC, entering its inaugural Pro League season, struck first against the run of play. In the 13th minute, midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré, who had entered the match as an early substitute, delivered a precise through ball that found Lacazette streaking into the right side of the penalty area. The veteran striker made no mistake, slotting a low shot past the goalkeeper to stun the home crowd and give the newcomers an early advantage.

Al Fayha, which according to Interstat’s ELO system entered the match with a 66.7 percent probability to win, controlled much of the possession and pressure thereafter. The sustained effort paid off three minutes before the intermission. Forward Jason, driving down the left flank, delivered a curling cross into the box. Midfielder Yassine Benzia met it with a well-timed run and a powerful header from close range, beating the NEOM keeper to the right side and sending the teams into the break level.

The second half saw increased physicality but fewer clear-cut chances. Al Fayha continued to see more of the ball in search of a winner, while NEOM SC organized defensively to secure a point from its first-ever top-flight fixture. The tension manifested in a pair of yellow cards midway through the half. Jason was booked in the 67th minute for a reckless challenge, and Doucouré followed for NEOM in the 75th minute for a tactical foul to halt an Al Fayha counterattack.

Neither side could find a breakthrough in the final quarter-hour, with both defenses holding firm to preserve the draw. The shared points represented a solid, if unspectacular, start for Al Fayha, which failed to capitalize on its favored status at home. For NEOM SC, securing a draw on the road in its league debut, led by goalscorer Lacazette, will be viewed as a positive foundation upon which to build.

Both clubs will look to secure their first victory of the young season in their next Pro League outings.