Simakan 'thankful' for late, late winner as Al Nassr bounce back top

It took 95 minutes and then some but, finally, Al Nassr broke through to bound back to the top of the Roshn Saudi League.

Of 25 attempts - 15 at goal - only one was required, Mohamed Simakan heading home Joao Felix’s free-kick five minutes into injury-time to snatch a 1-0 win against NEOM Sports Club. In doing so, it sent not only Al Awwal Park wild in celebration, but Al Nassr returning to the summit.

The Riyadh side, having relinquished the RSL lead to Al Ahli 24 hours before, are two points clear with nine rounds remaining, positioned on pole for the first league championship in seven years.

“Sometimes we need to trust ourselves; we need to trust God also,” a thankful Simakan said afterwards. “Because you know now it’s Ramadan time, everything is not easy.

“But sometimes God gives difficulty for you to have something better. And, today, I believed we’d score at one moment. And Allah give me this goal, so I’m really happy for that. You can say just thanks be to God.”

Although the capital clash ultimately comprised a solitary goal, it wasn't short on incident. Anything but.

Al Nassr struck the woodwork, while NEOM SC did likewise - twice - with visiting goalkeeper Luis Maximiano later voted Man of the Match. The Portuguese stopper made nine saves in all, the pick either when he thwarted Felix with his feet or the superb stop, low down to his right, from Sadio Mane.

Still, there was nothing Maximiano could do about Simakan’s point-blank header that decided the outcome.

“It was a good fight,” Simakan said. “We had a lot of chances, and we didn’t give a lot for them; they had one chance. You cannot say the strikers didn’t do their job… they tried [repeatedly but NEOM SC] have a good goalkeeper.

“Today we score one goal and we’re happy just for the victory... I’m happy for everyone.”