'Tonight no one will sleep' - Al Somah settles history-making derby

Used to etching his name in the Roshn Saudi League record books, Omar Al Somah added another slice of history to his remarkable resume.

On Friday night, he settled the competition’s first ever Ar Rass derby.

It was a penalty that did it for the Al Hazem star, Al Somah keeping his cool not long before half-time to put the visitors 2-1 up at local rivals Al Kholood.

It proved decisive. For some time the RSL’s all-time leading scorer, Al Somah’s 156th goal in the Saudi top flight will live long in the memory not just for him, but for everyone connected to Al Hazem.

The first RSL Ar Rass derby spoils was theirs.

“Thank God for the victory,” Al Somah said afterwards. "I would like to thank our community and everyone who came to support us. 

“I would like to thank the players, the medical team, the technical management team. Everyone did a great job in the last 10 days. We were focused and determined for this match. Thank God, we were able to win.”

Al Hazem did have to work for it, though. With only three minutes on the clock at Al Hazem Club Stadium - this was officially an away match for Al Somah's side - Al Kholood opened the scoring through in-form frontman Ramiro Enrique.

It was October’s Young Player of the Month Abdulaziz Al Elewa who penetrated the Al Hazem backline and squared for Enrique, who lifted his shot high into the net. It marked the Argentine’s fifth goal in eight RSL matches since joining this summer from MLS outfit Orlando City.

But, right on the half hour, Al Hazem were level. The equaliser came from another off-season recruit, South Africa international Elias Mokwana sneaking his shot from the edge of the Al Kholood penalty area past Juan Pablo Cozzani.

Seven minutes later, it was left to Al Somah to ultimately decide the derby. Norbert Gyomber felled Mokwana inside the hosts’ area, VAR helped the referee award the infringement, and three-time golden boot winner Al Somah thrashed home the winner from the spot.

Al Hazem had their second win of the 2025-26 RSL season, jumping to 12th and now level on points with Al Kholood in 10th. But, more importantly for the here and now, they could claim those local bragging rights.

“Derbies always start before the match,” Al Somah said. “Before the match, we had a week or 10 days. The media starts talking about it everywhere - especially that this is the first [Ar Rass] derby in the RSL.

“The derby match has a different taste. Tonight, the employees will not sleep. The fans will not sleep. The ones who want to sleep will sleep.” 

“What about tomorrow?” he was then asked. 

"Tomorrow?" Al Somah smiled. "No one will sleep."