Pitso Mosimane’s Al-Ahli Saudi team continue promotion push
South African coach Pitso Mosimane’s Al-Ahli Saudi maintained their promotion push after upsetting Al Hazem 1-0 on Wednesday evening in Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah Al-Mogren scored the only goal of the game in the 74th minute at a packed Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium that looked like a sea of green.
Al-Mogren slotted the ball into the net after meeting a low cross from the right wing following a counterattack.
The win ignited a rambunctious cacophony among the fans for the hosts, Al-Ahli and the visitors the inside the packed stadium located in Jeddah.
PITSO MOSIMANE’S SIDE THREE POINTS WITHIN LEADERS
Al-Ahli’s back-to-back win saw former Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane’s club go within three points of Saudi Arabia First Division leaders, Al Faisaly.
Al Ahli have a luxury of having a game in hand over Al Faisaly, second-placed AL-Okhdood and Al-Hazem who lie third.
Al Faisaly have 34 points from 17 games, followed by AL-Okhdood (33 points) and 31 points for Al-Hazem.
Goal-aggregate separate Al-Hazem from Al Ahli who occupy fourth slot with 31 points from 16 matches.
AL AHLI REMAIN UNDEFEATED IN 10 LEAGUE GAMES
The South African coach Pitso Mosimane remains undefeated in 10 league games since he picked up the job in Saudi Arabia mid last year.
Mosimane has won five league games and drawn five matches with the Jeddah-based outfit.
He signaled his promotion intent on Tuesday when he signed former Swansea Gambian star winger Modou Barrow.
The former Bafana Bafana coach took over the coaching reigns at Al Ahli after parting ways with Al Ahly in Egypt.
Pitso Mosimane went on a sabbatical saying he wanted to recharge after taxing demands of coaching the Egyptian giants.
A few months later, he was hired by the Saudis with a mandate of earning Al Ahli promotion to the Saudi Arabia Professional League.
Mosimane’s team suffered relegation the top-flight league last season.
RELATED STORY: Pitso Mosimane signs former Premier League star