Double Dutch: Goal heroes Reijnders and Bergwijn react to Man of Match displays
On Monday, the Roshn Saudi League displayed a particularly Dutch flavour, with compatriots Tijjani Reijnders and Steven Bergwijn shining along the west coast.
First, Reijnders reinforced why Al Qadsiah last week made him their marquee signing of the summer following the Netherlands international’s move from English heavyweights Manchester City.
With Al Qadsiah making the trip to Tabuk to take on NEOM Sports Club in search of an immediate response from Matchweek 2’s defeat to Al Ittihad, Reijnders rose to the occasion.
Right on the half hour, he picked up the ball around 40 yards out, drove forward and then squeezed a shot from distance just inside the hosts’ near post.
On his full debut, Reijnders had delivered.
“It was a good win” he said. “In general, we controlled the game pretty well. Only in the first half we were too sloppy, but, second half, we did a great job and, yeah, great three points.”
Still, and despite the eventual 2-0 triumph, Reijnders is getting to grips with his new surroundings.
“The heat, of course, I have to adapt for myself,” he smiled. “The boys are a bit used to it now, but it's tough. But we managed it well.”
Same could be said about Reijnders' first week in Saudi Arabia. Understandably, the switch from England to the Kingdom was firmly a family decision.
“I spoke first with my dad, of course, and with my wife,” he said. “And it was a great opportunity to go to this league. I'm enjoying it since the first game I played and now it's amazing.
“The teammates I have, the technical staff, it's top. So I feel very welcome.”
Welcome, and now set for what he hopes will be a stellar first season in Al Khobar.
“Especially Al Qadsiah is ready for this season,” Reijnders said. “We did a great job and now we have to move on.”
Moving down to Jeddah later Monday, it was a Reijnders compatriot who stole the show as Al Ittihad snuck past Al Hazem in a see-saw clash at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.
The 2024-25 RSL champions, who even with 10 men shocked Al Qadsiah in Matchweek 2, found themselves a goal down, then 2-1 up, then pegged back, before Bergwijn wrapped up a 3-2 victory late on via a penalty.
In fact, it was his second from the spot on the night. Even better, it marked his fifth goal in five appearances across all competitions to kick-start the 2026-27 campaign.
“Oh, it was a tough game,” Bergwijn conceded. “We knew it was not easy. Also, after the game at Al Qadsiah, you feel it in the body, but it's important that we took the three points today.
“It's just important to win. It's not easy team. We knew it from the beginning and we went 1-0 behind, but you see we fight for each other and even [when] they make the 2-2 again, we still believe and keep going.
“And I think that's important - and the strength of this team. It's only the beginning of the season; we have a lot to improve. But step by step, game by game, we improve.
“You know what the coaching staff wants for us, what they keep telling us every day. We need to go on like this step by step and, yeah, Inshallah, we have big season.”
