Al Hazem and Al Fayha shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw in the Saudi Professional League at Al-Hazem Club Stadium on Thursday, 22 October 2026. The hosts led early, fell behind after the break, and rescued a point late on in a match that offered plenty of attacking intent and no little defensive vulnerability at both ends.

Match overview

Al Hazem began with purpose in front of their home support, pressing high and forcing Al Fayha into a series of hurried clearances. The early pressure told when Fahad Al-Zahrani opened the scoring, turning home from close range after a well-worked set piece had caused confusion in the visiting penalty area. It was the kind of start the home side had been looking for, and for a while they looked capable of building on it.

Al Fayha, however, grew into the contest as the first half wore on. Their equaliser arrived through Rakan Al-Anazi, who finished calmly on the counterattack after Al Hazem had committed too many bodies forward. The visitors then took control early in the second half, with Sultan Al-Sawadi putting them ahead from a free-kick that curled beyond the reach of the home goalkeeper.

Al Hazem responded with renewed urgency. The introduction of fresh legs from the bench gave them more width and energy in the final third, and the equaliser finally came eight minutes from time when Abdullah Al-Harbi powered a header into the net from a corner. Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but neither could find the decisive moment.

Key moments

• 18th minute – Al Hazem 1-0: Fahad Al-Zahrani reacts quickest inside the box to convert after Al Fayha failed to clear a dangerous set piece.
• 34th minute – Al Fayha 1-1: Rakan Al-Anazi breaks at speed and finishes low into the corner to bring the visitors level.
• 58th minute – Al Fayha 2-1: Sultan Al-Sawadi curls a free-kick beyond the wall and into the top corner to put Al Fayha ahead.
• 82nd minute – Al Hazem 2-2: Abdullah Al-Harbi rises highest at a corner and heads home to rescue a point for the hosts.

Tactical story

Al Hazem set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape and looked to win the ball back quickly in the middle third. Their best moments came from wide areas and set pieces, with the front four rotating to create space around the edge of the box. The approach worked well in the opening half-hour, but it also left them exposed to Al Fayha’s counterattacks.

Al Fayha’s 4-3-3 gave them a useful foothold in midfield once they settled. Their wide forwards stretched the play, and the midfield trio were able to pick up second balls and launch quick transitions. The visitors’ second goal was a reminder of their quality from dead-ball situations, but their inability to manage the final stages cost them a first away win of the season.

Standout players

Fahad Al-Zahrani was a constant threat for Al Hazem, both with his movement in the box and his link-up play. Abdullah Al-Harbi’s late header underlined his importance in both boxes, while the home goalkeeper made two important saves to keep the deficit manageable before the equaliser. For Al Fayha, Rakan Al-Anazi’s pace and direct running caused problems throughout, and Sultan Al-Sawadi’s set-piece delivery was a genuine weapon.

League impact

The point keeps Al Hazem in the fight to move clear of the lower reaches of the Saudi Professional League table, while Al Fayha remain in the mid-table pack after another performance that mixed attacking quality with defensive fragility. The head-to-head record between the two sides now reflects how evenly matched they have been in recent meetings, and both coaches will see this as a result that could have gone either way. With the Saudi Professional League standings still tight, the dropped points may matter just as much as the one gained when the season reaches its decisive phase.