Match story
- Saudi Arabia fired more attempts (9 vs 7 shots).
- Saudi Arabia held more of the ball (64% possession).
Saudi Arabia defeated Vietnam 0-1 in the World Cup - Qualification Asia. The fixture is part of the 3rd Round - 6 stage in the 2022 season. The match was played at Sân vận động quốc gia Mỹ Đình in Hanoi. Hanna Hattab officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Vietnam vs Saudi Arabia meeting in World Cup - Qualification Asia with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
World Cup - Qualification AsiaRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Saudi Arabia defeated Vietnam 0-1 in the World Cup - Qualification Asia. The fixture is part of the 3rd Round - 6 stage in the 2022 season. The match was played at Sân vận động quốc gia Mỹ Đình in Hanoi. Hanna Hattab officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Vietnam vs Saudi Arabia meeting in World Cup - Qualification Asia with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
World Cup - Qualification AsiaRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
West Ham United are weighing up a late move for Josh Brownhill as they prepare for another change in midfield before the transfer window closes. The Hammers have held a long-standing interest in the former Burnley captain, who is now playing for Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia. Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a […] The post West Ham United target move for Englishman to improve midfield quality appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Ollie Watkins is poised to travel to Saudi Arabia this week to clinch his £50million move to Al Hilal - paving the way for Nicolas Jackson to join Aston Villa.
After being subbed off in Al Nassr's epic SPL comeback, Cristiano Ronaldo issued a three-word message to his teammates. Cristiano Ronaldo experienced one of his stranger nights in an Al Nassr shirt on Tuesday, watching from the bench as his 10-man squad mounted a dramatic second-half rally after he was subbed off at halftime. Following the thrilling Saudi Pro League victory, the Portuguese legend took to social media to send a crisp three-word message to his teammates. For the first time in the 2026-27 season, Cristiano Ronaldo was named to the starting XI by head coach Ange Postecoglou for Tuesday’s match against Al Ettifaq. However, the opening half proved disastrous after goalkeeper Bento was sent off, leaving Al Nassr down a man before goals from Ondrej Duda and Alvaro Medran put the hosts ahead 2-0 going into the break. Postecoglou made a bold tactical shift at the half, taking off Ronaldo in favor of midfielder Abdullah Al-Khaibari to bolster the team’s defensive structure. The gamble paid off immensely, as Sadio Mane shifted centrally to cut the deficit in the 74th minute before Abdulelah Al-Amri netted the equalizer, setting the stage for Mane to seal the improbable 3-2 victory in the 90th minute. After watching the thrilling sequence unfold from the sideline, Ronaldo posted his immediate reaction to the result across his social media channels. “WHAT. A. COMEBACK!” he wrote on his Instagram story, accompanying the text with an image of his teammates celebrating in a huddle on the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Instagram story. (@cristiano) In the post-match press conference, coach Postecoglou explained his reasoning for making the change, stating he “believed the players coming on could make an impact“. The fixture against Al Ettifaq marked Ronaldo’s second appearance of the young campaign, following a 28-minute substitute appearance against Al Riyadh. A halftime substitution, an odd experience for Ronaldo Since arriving in Saudi Arabia in late 2022, Ronaldo’s tenure at Al Nassr has been defined by durability and elite conditioning, routinely playing full matches while suffering very few fitness setbacks. Consequently, a halftime tactical exit with his club trailing on the scoreboard represented a rare event for the superstar forward. Prior to Tuesday, the only other occasion Ronaldo had been subbed off at halftime in a Saudi Pro League match came in April 2024 against Abha Club. On that night, however, the Portuguese star had already scored a first-half hat trick and provided an assist, leading then-coach Luis Castro to rest him with Al Nassr holding a commanding 4-0 halftime cushion in an eventual 8-0 rout. Ronaldo was visibly frustrated heading into halftime with Al-Nassr down 0–2.He was subbed off at halftime. pic.twitter.com/aYRpiWdHI5— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 25, 2026 During Tuesday’s match against Al Ettifaq, Ronaldo’s disappointment was evident on the touchline as Postecoglou set a strong precedent by withdrawing him with the team trailing. The decision comes as Ronaldo continues to build match fitness, having rejoined squad activities less than two weeks ago before missing Sunday’s training session following a promotional trip to Paris.
Liam Delap is set to leave Chelsea (Picture: Getty) Chelsea are set to raise around £100m in player sales as Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap close in on moves away from Stamford Bridge. Jackson and Delap have been training away from Chelsea’s first-team squad as both have been deemed surplus to requirements by Xabi Alonso. Joao Pedro once again showed why he is one of the most highly-rated strikers in Europe in Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Fulham on Monday night. Chelsea also bolstered Alonso’s attacking options earlier in the summer with the signing of ex-England international Danny Welbeck from Brighton. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. Jackson showed some encouraging signs in his first season at Chelsea following a £32m move from Villarreal, scoring 17 goals in all competitions. But the Senegal striker failed to hit that figure in his following campaign and was then replaced by £60m signing Pedro. Nicolas Jackson is also closing in on a summer move (Picture: Getty) Jackson joined Bayern Munich on loan last summer and hoped to earn a permanent move to the Allianz Arena. Bayern agreed to pay £70m for Jackson if he made a set number of appearances for the German champions but it quickly became apparent that the forward would fall well short of that mark. As a result Jackson returned to west London at the end of the season and was said to be open to staying at Chelsea and fighting for a place in Alonso’s team. But Chelsea made it clear that they would prefer to offload Jackson again amid interest from several Premier League and European clubs. Aston Villa are known admirers of Jackson and have stepped up their interest amid speculation linking Ollie Watkins with a move to Saudi Arabia. Watkins missed Villa’s Premier League opener against Brighton on Sunday after being the subject of multiple bids from Al Hilal. Aston Villa refused to sanction the England international’s exit before a replacement was signed but are now closing in on a deal for Jackson. Foot Mercato say Chelsea are ‘on the verge’ of accepting a 70m euros (£60m) deal with Aston Villa, while Jackson is ready to approve the transfer given his previous working relationship with Unai Emery. Jackson is not the only striker set to leave Chelsea, however, with Delap set to join Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £45m. More to follow… Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Karim Benzema's future at Al Hilal hangs in the balance, as the French forward reportedly refuses to join the club's AFC Champions League Elite-only squad. Karim Benzema‘s future at Al Hilal remains unresolved, despite the forward shutting down rumors about a Saudi Pro League departure. Now, it seems the situation has taken a turn, with the Frenchman reportedly refusing to be registered solely in the club’s AFC Champions League Elite squad, a move that would keep him out of the league picture entirely. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al Hilal had floated the idea of registering Benzema only for the club’s Asian commitments, a designation that would allow him to play in the AFC Champions League Elite, the King’s Cup, and the Saudi Super Cup, but not in the Saudi Pro League itself. Benzema has reportedly rejected that arrangement, unwilling to be sidelined from domestic competition. The report adds that negotiations over his long-term future at the club remain ongoing, with Al Hilal not seeking to terminate his contract unilaterally. Any potential departure would need to be reached by mutual agreement, leaving Benzema with a narrow set of options: stay at Al Hilal under the Asian-only role, negotiate an exit to another Saudi club, or leave the kingdom altogether. That last option, however, comes with a steep financial cost, which helps explain Benzema’s resistance to simply walking away. A separate promotional contract tied to his role in promoting Saudi soccer, unrelated to his Al Hilal deal, would be cancelled immediately if he left the country to play elsewhere, a factor reportedly weighing heavily on his decision-making. Karim Benzema of Al Hilal. The financial breakdown behind Benzema’s Al Hilal contract situation Per the report, the figures circulating on social media about a potential Benzema exit package are completely inaccurate. His direct contract with Al Hilal is worth $25 million annually and runs through June 30, 2027, with roughly $20.8 million remaining from September onward. Separately, Al Hilal would not be responsible for a second contract Benzema holds, one connected to the Saudi soccer recruitment programme rather than the club itself, worth $23 million per year through 2030. Its remaining value from September is estimated at $88.2 million, and it reportedly includes a clause voiding the deal entirely if Benzema plays for a club outside Saudi Arabia while it remains active. With those numbers in play, Benzema’s decision looks less like a straightforward soccer call and more like a financial balancing act, one that could ultimately determine whether he stays in Middle East, moves across the Saudi Pro League, or walks away from a fortune to leave the kingdom entirely.
Another transfer window, means more transfer drama. This time it is Ollie Watkins' name which is in the spotlight. On BBC Sounds' Monday Night Club, former Premier League midfielder Andros Townsend said he could "understand" why Watkins may want to pursue a move to Saudi Arabia.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
West Ham United are weighing up a late move for Josh Brownhill as they prepare for another change in midfield before the transfer window closes. The Hammers have held a long-standing interest in the former Burnley captain, who is now playing for Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia. Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a […] The post West Ham United target move for Englishman to improve midfield quality appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Ollie Watkins is poised to travel to Saudi Arabia this week to clinch his £50million move to Al Hilal - paving the way for Nicolas Jackson to join Aston Villa.
After being subbed off in Al Nassr's epic SPL comeback, Cristiano Ronaldo issued a three-word message to his teammates. Cristiano Ronaldo experienced one of his stranger nights in an Al Nassr shirt on Tuesday, watching from the bench as his 10-man squad mounted a dramatic second-half rally after he was subbed off at halftime. Following the thrilling Saudi Pro League victory, the Portuguese legend took to social media to send a crisp three-word message to his teammates. For the first time in the 2026-27 season, Cristiano Ronaldo was named to the starting XI by head coach Ange Postecoglou for Tuesday’s match against Al Ettifaq. However, the opening half proved disastrous after goalkeeper Bento was sent off, leaving Al Nassr down a man before goals from Ondrej Duda and Alvaro Medran put the hosts ahead 2-0 going into the break. Postecoglou made a bold tactical shift at the half, taking off Ronaldo in favor of midfielder Abdullah Al-Khaibari to bolster the team’s defensive structure. The gamble paid off immensely, as Sadio Mane shifted centrally to cut the deficit in the 74th minute before Abdulelah Al-Amri netted the equalizer, setting the stage for Mane to seal the improbable 3-2 victory in the 90th minute. After watching the thrilling sequence unfold from the sideline, Ronaldo posted his immediate reaction to the result across his social media channels. “WHAT. A. COMEBACK!” he wrote on his Instagram story, accompanying the text with an image of his teammates celebrating in a huddle on the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Instagram story. (@cristiano) In the post-match press conference, coach Postecoglou explained his reasoning for making the change, stating he “believed the players coming on could make an impact“. The fixture against Al Ettifaq marked Ronaldo’s second appearance of the young campaign, following a 28-minute substitute appearance against Al Riyadh. A halftime substitution, an odd experience for Ronaldo Since arriving in Saudi Arabia in late 2022, Ronaldo’s tenure at Al Nassr has been defined by durability and elite conditioning, routinely playing full matches while suffering very few fitness setbacks. Consequently, a halftime tactical exit with his club trailing on the scoreboard represented a rare event for the superstar forward. Prior to Tuesday, the only other occasion Ronaldo had been subbed off at halftime in a Saudi Pro League match came in April 2024 against Abha Club. On that night, however, the Portuguese star had already scored a first-half hat trick and provided an assist, leading then-coach Luis Castro to rest him with Al Nassr holding a commanding 4-0 halftime cushion in an eventual 8-0 rout. Ronaldo was visibly frustrated heading into halftime with Al-Nassr down 0–2.He was subbed off at halftime. pic.twitter.com/aYRpiWdHI5— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 25, 2026 During Tuesday’s match against Al Ettifaq, Ronaldo’s disappointment was evident on the touchline as Postecoglou set a strong precedent by withdrawing him with the team trailing. The decision comes as Ronaldo continues to build match fitness, having rejoined squad activities less than two weeks ago before missing Sunday’s training session following a promotional trip to Paris.
Liam Delap is set to leave Chelsea (Picture: Getty) Chelsea are set to raise around £100m in player sales as Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap close in on moves away from Stamford Bridge. Jackson and Delap have been training away from Chelsea’s first-team squad as both have been deemed surplus to requirements by Xabi Alonso. Joao Pedro once again showed why he is one of the most highly-rated strikers in Europe in Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Fulham on Monday night. Chelsea also bolstered Alonso’s attacking options earlier in the summer with the signing of ex-England international Danny Welbeck from Brighton. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. Jackson showed some encouraging signs in his first season at Chelsea following a £32m move from Villarreal, scoring 17 goals in all competitions. But the Senegal striker failed to hit that figure in his following campaign and was then replaced by £60m signing Pedro. Nicolas Jackson is also closing in on a summer move (Picture: Getty) Jackson joined Bayern Munich on loan last summer and hoped to earn a permanent move to the Allianz Arena. Bayern agreed to pay £70m for Jackson if he made a set number of appearances for the German champions but it quickly became apparent that the forward would fall well short of that mark. As a result Jackson returned to west London at the end of the season and was said to be open to staying at Chelsea and fighting for a place in Alonso’s team. But Chelsea made it clear that they would prefer to offload Jackson again amid interest from several Premier League and European clubs. Aston Villa are known admirers of Jackson and have stepped up their interest amid speculation linking Ollie Watkins with a move to Saudi Arabia. Watkins missed Villa’s Premier League opener against Brighton on Sunday after being the subject of multiple bids from Al Hilal. Aston Villa refused to sanction the England international’s exit before a replacement was signed but are now closing in on a deal for Jackson. Foot Mercato say Chelsea are ‘on the verge’ of accepting a 70m euros (£60m) deal with Aston Villa, while Jackson is ready to approve the transfer given his previous working relationship with Unai Emery. Jackson is not the only striker set to leave Chelsea, however, with Delap set to join Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £45m. More to follow… Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Karim Benzema's future at Al Hilal hangs in the balance, as the French forward reportedly refuses to join the club's AFC Champions League Elite-only squad. Karim Benzema‘s future at Al Hilal remains unresolved, despite the forward shutting down rumors about a Saudi Pro League departure. Now, it seems the situation has taken a turn, with the Frenchman reportedly refusing to be registered solely in the club’s AFC Champions League Elite squad, a move that would keep him out of the league picture entirely. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al Hilal had floated the idea of registering Benzema only for the club’s Asian commitments, a designation that would allow him to play in the AFC Champions League Elite, the King’s Cup, and the Saudi Super Cup, but not in the Saudi Pro League itself. Benzema has reportedly rejected that arrangement, unwilling to be sidelined from domestic competition. The report adds that negotiations over his long-term future at the club remain ongoing, with Al Hilal not seeking to terminate his contract unilaterally. Any potential departure would need to be reached by mutual agreement, leaving Benzema with a narrow set of options: stay at Al Hilal under the Asian-only role, negotiate an exit to another Saudi club, or leave the kingdom altogether. That last option, however, comes with a steep financial cost, which helps explain Benzema’s resistance to simply walking away. A separate promotional contract tied to his role in promoting Saudi soccer, unrelated to his Al Hilal deal, would be cancelled immediately if he left the country to play elsewhere, a factor reportedly weighing heavily on his decision-making. Karim Benzema of Al Hilal. The financial breakdown behind Benzema’s Al Hilal contract situation Per the report, the figures circulating on social media about a potential Benzema exit package are completely inaccurate. His direct contract with Al Hilal is worth $25 million annually and runs through June 30, 2027, with roughly $20.8 million remaining from September onward. Separately, Al Hilal would not be responsible for a second contract Benzema holds, one connected to the Saudi soccer recruitment programme rather than the club itself, worth $23 million per year through 2030. Its remaining value from September is estimated at $88.2 million, and it reportedly includes a clause voiding the deal entirely if Benzema plays for a club outside Saudi Arabia while it remains active. With those numbers in play, Benzema’s decision looks less like a straightforward soccer call and more like a financial balancing act, one that could ultimately determine whether he stays in Middle East, moves across the Saudi Pro League, or walks away from a fortune to leave the kingdom entirely.
Another transfer window, means more transfer drama. This time it is Ollie Watkins' name which is in the spotlight. On BBC Sounds' Monday Night Club, former Premier League midfielder Andros Townsend said he could "understand" why Watkins may want to pursue a move to Saudi Arabia.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
