Pitso Mosimane suffered yet another blow in the Saudi Pro League relegation dogfight after Abha Club were humiliated by Al Akhdoud on Saturday evening.
This one was a battle of strugglers in the Saudi Pro League, as both teams are fighting to retain their elite league status. But the legendary coach, Pitso Mosimane saw his men bow to a 4-0 defeat at the Prince Hathloul Aziz stadium.
Ahead of this match, Abha Club were on top of Al Akhdoud, albeit by one point. They were in 16th position with 25 points. But the home side proved that they wanted it more than Mosimane’s men.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach was forced to make changes at the 37th-minute mark to revamp his team. He pulled out Fahad Al-Jamiea for Saleh Al-Kamezi.
However, that move backfired as they went on to concede three minutes later, with Solomon Kvirkvelia scoring for Al Akhdoud.
That was all Al Akhdoud needed to get some respite going into the half-time break. And they returned from the break with more firepower, doubling their scores in the 47th minute through Ali Al Zubaidi.
From that point on, they controlled the match, though Abha Club got sporadic attacks which yielded nothing. Al Akhdoud made it three in the 74th minute courtesy of a goal by Juan Sebastián Pedroza. And Al Hatila scored their fourth in the referee’s optional time.
HOW THE LEGENDARY COACH MOSIMANE HAS FARED AT ABHA AS RELEGATION LOOMS
Under Mosimane, Abha Club have now played ten games where they won three times. They drew twice and lost five times.
All in all, they picked 11 points out of a possible 30. Sadly for Mosimane, Abha have now conceded nine goals in their last two matches.
After last week’s 5-0 loss to Al Shabab, they remained stuck in 15th position with 25 points. But they suffered a major blow that saw them drop to 16th position, the first relegation slot.
That was Al Tai beat Al Riyadh to leap out of the murky waters of relegation, with 26 points. But this result further dampens all their hopes as they are faced with a tricky fixture schedule.
They face teams with teams that have had contrasting fortunes. Only five matches remain before the curtain goes down on the Saudi Arabia elite league.
Without a doubt, a point dropped could leave their Saudi Pro League status in more danger. From this point on, they date Al Ittihad, Damak and Al Khaleej.
They will then take on Mosimane’s former paymaster Al Ahli, a match that could be emotional considering how they divorced.
They will wrap up the season with a clash against Al Hazm who currently sit at the bottom of the log standings.
RELATED STORY: Pitso Mosimane’s Abha Club suffers another drawback
