Al-Qadsiah beat Al-Shabab 3-1 as Quiñones shines
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13 Sept 2026Al-Qadsiah beat Al-Shabab 3-1 as Quiñones shines
Al-Qadsiah opened their Saudi Pro League campaign with a 3-1 away win at Al-Shabab Club Stadium in Riyadh. The visitors came from a goal down and finished stronger, helped by smarter final-third play and a big night from Julián Quiñones. The xG ledger read 2.64 to 1.27 in favor of Al-Qadsiah, which matched the scoreline and the flow. Sofascore’s live data highlighted a clear attacking edge for Brendan Rodgers’ side, especially after the hour mark.
Al-Shabab struck first through Hammam Al-Hammami on 15 minutes, yet Al-Qadsiah replied before the break and took control late. With six shots on target to the hosts’ three and more entries into dangerous areas, the visitors made their pressure count in the closing stages.
Al-Qadsiah overturn early goal in Riyadh
Al-Shabab’s early breakthrough came from a right-foot finish by Hammam Al-Hammami, assisted by Josh Brownhill after a lively move down the right. The hosts had the better of the first-half xG by a nose at 0.40 to 0.38 and went into the interval level after Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat equalized on 36 minutes from a Nacho Fernández pass. That 1-1 at half-time felt fair, with both keepers making one save and corners split 4 to 5.
The game tilted after the break. Al-Qadsiah’s bench added pace and precision, and the visitors created the higher volume of chances. Quiñones put Al-Qadsiah ahead on 80 minutes, finishing a flowing move and a sharp cross from Mohammed Hamad Alqahtani. In stoppage time, Turki Alammar sealed it at 90+3, again with Quiñones involved as the assister. From 1-0 down to 3-1 up, the visitors timed their push well.
Numbers behind the 3-1 scoreline
Possession leaned Al-Qadsiah’s way at 55 to 45, but the bigger story sat in chance quality. The visitors led shots 15 to 8, shots on target 6 to 3, and expected goals 2.64 to 1.27. They also had more touches in the box, 42 to 25, and far more final-third entries, 66 to 29. That steady territory advantage told.
Direct service worked. Al-Qadsiah completed 30 of 47 long balls at a 64 percent clip, while Al-Shabab hit 10 of 38 at 26 percent. Despite a low cross completion for Al-Qadsiah, 3 of 27, they still generated three big chances and converted all three. Aerial duels favored the visitors 14 of 23, another sign they controlled the penalty-area frames. Al-Shabab defended often and deep, logging 40 clearances and 11 interceptions, but a goalkeeper error that led to a goal and a goals-prevented mark of -0.96 told its own tale. Team average ratings on Sofascore underlined the gap too, with Al-Qadsiah at 7.67 and Al-Shabab at 6.50.
Formations and key battles
Thomas Letsch set Al-Shabab in a 4-2-3-1 and targeted the flanks early. Brownhill created two big chances and delivered the assist for 1-0, while Yacine Adli knitted play with 49 of 53 passing, six recoveries, and four clearances, topping the home side with a 7.7 Sofascore Rating. At the back, Tin Jedvaj and Mamadou Barry combined for 18 clearances and kept the game level until late.
Rodgers used a 3-1-4-2 that grew in control as the midfield tilted his way. Nacho Fernández passed cleanly, created a big chance, and assisted the equalizer, finishing on a 7.2. Jehad Thakri (8 clearances, 2 tackles won) and Gastón Álvarez (4 tackles, 8 duels won) handled the back line’s traffic well. Julian Weigl linked phases with 43 accurate passes, and wide men Christopher Baah and Musab Al Juwayr were persistent outlets even with mixed final actions. The structure held, the subs added punch, and the final third belonged to the away team.
Match MVP: Julián Quiñones
Julián Quiñones earned the Sofascore Rating of 8.5 and the Player of the Match tag with a decisive, all-action display. He scored the go-ahead goal on 80 minutes and set up Turki Alammar for 3-1 in stoppage time. Beyond the headline moments, he produced four key passes and one big chance created, and completed 22 of 29 passes while hitting all three of his long balls.
The numbers back the eye test. Quiñones posted 0.69 xG, 0.98 xGOT, and a hefty 1.25 xA, with 45 touches and 11 carries pushing Al-Qadsiah into advanced positions. He also drew two fouls and stayed switched on in transition, which mattered in a second half that opened up. It was an efficient, high-impact performance in a game that demanded clarity in the box. Close behind in the ratings came Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat at 8.3 after his first-half goal, while Al-Shabab’s Yacine Adli led the home side on 7.7.
Impact from the bench and takeaways
Rodgers’ changes paid off. Mohammed Hamad Alqahtani came on at 74 minutes and quickly delivered the assist for 2-1, finishing with 13 of 16 passing, four progressive carries, and a strong 0.58 expected assists. Turki Alammar needed only 10 minutes to score, posting 0.42 xG and sealing the points in added time. Yasser Al-Shahrani also gave good minutes, completing his lone cross and winning a tackle in a compact cameo.
Al-Shabab’s bench had some bright touches, but the second half drifted away as Al-Qadsiah’s pressure mounted. The hosts won tackles 21 to 18 and led interceptions 11 to 7, yet that defensive workload reflected sustained pressure against them. With long balls and aerials going the visitors’ way, territory tilted and chance quality followed. On this evidence, Al-Qadsiah’s mix of structure, set-piece threat, and impact subs looks built for away days. For full player metrics and instant live updates from the Saudi Pro League, Sofascore remains a handy companion.
Saudi Pro League
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Al-Qadsiah opened their Saudi Pro League campaign with a 3-1 away win at Al-Shabab Club Stadium in Riyadh. The visitors came from a goal down and finished stronger, helped by smarter final-third play and a big night from Julián Quiñones. The xG ledger read 2.64 to 1.27 in favor of Al-Qadsiah, which matched the scoreline and the flow. Sofascore’s live data highlighted a clear attacking edge for Brendan Rodgers’ side, especially after the hour mark.
Al-Shabab struck first through Hammam Al-Hammami on 15 minutes, yet Al-Qadsiah replied before the break and took control late. With six shots on target to the hosts’ three and more entries into dangerous areas, the visitors made their pressure count in the closing stages.
Al-Qadsiah overturn early goal in Riyadh
Al-Shabab’s early breakthrough came from a right-foot finish by Hammam Al-Hammami, assisted by Josh Brownhill after a lively move down the right. The hosts had the better of the first-half xG by a nose at 0.40 to 0.38 and went into the interval level after Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat equalized on 36 minutes from a Nacho Fernández pass. That 1-1 at half-time felt fair, with both keepers making one save and corners split 4 to 5.
The game tilted after the break. Al-Qadsiah’s bench added pace and precision, and the visitors created the higher volume of chances. Quiñones put Al-Qadsiah ahead on 80 minutes, finishing a flowing move and a sharp cross from Mohammed Hamad Alqahtani. In stoppage time, Turki Alammar sealed it at 90+3, again with Quiñones involved as the assister. From 1-0 down to 3-1 up, the visitors timed their push well.
Numbers behind the 3-1 scoreline
Possession leaned Al-Qadsiah’s way at 55 to 45, but the bigger story sat in chance quality. The visitors led shots 15 to 8, shots on target 6 to 3, and expected goals 2.64 to 1.27. They also had more touches in the box, 42 to 25, and far more final-third entries, 66 to 29. That steady territory advantage told.
Direct service worked. Al-Qadsiah completed 30 of 47 long balls at a 64 percent clip, while Al-Shabab hit 10 of 38 at 26 percent. Despite a low cross completion for Al-Qadsiah, 3 of 27, they still generated three big chances and converted all three. Aerial duels favored the visitors 14 of 23, another sign they controlled the penalty-area frames. Al-Shabab defended often and deep, logging 40 clearances and 11 interceptions, but a goalkeeper error that led to a goal and a goals-prevented mark of -0.96 told its own tale. Team average ratings on Sofascore underlined the gap too, with Al-Qadsiah at 7.67 and Al-Shabab at 6.50.
Formations and key battles
Thomas Letsch set Al-Shabab in a 4-2-3-1 and targeted the flanks early. Brownhill created two big chances and delivered the assist for 1-0, while Yacine Adli knitted play with 49 of 53 passing, six recoveries, and four clearances, topping the home side with a 7.7 Sofascore Rating. At the back, Tin Jedvaj and Mamadou Barry combined for 18 clearances and kept the game level until late.
Rodgers used a 3-1-4-2 that grew in control as the midfield tilted his way. Nacho Fernández passed cleanly, created a big chance, and assisted the equalizer, finishing on a 7.2. Jehad Thakri (8 clearances, 2 tackles won) and Gastón Álvarez (4 tackles, 8 duels won) handled the back line’s traffic well. Julian Weigl linked phases with 43 accurate passes, and wide men Christopher Baah and Musab Al Juwayr were persistent outlets even with mixed final actions. The structure held, the subs added punch, and the final third belonged to the away team.
Match MVP: Julián Quiñones
Julián Quiñones earned the Sofascore Rating of 8.5 and the Player of the Match tag with a decisive, all-action display. He scored the go-ahead goal on 80 minutes and set up Turki Alammar for 3-1 in stoppage time. Beyond the headline moments, he produced four key passes and one big chance created, and completed 22 of 29 passes while hitting all three of his long balls.
The numbers back the eye test. Quiñones posted 0.69 xG, 0.98 xGOT, and a hefty 1.25 xA, with 45 touches and 11 carries pushing Al-Qadsiah into advanced positions. He also drew two fouls and stayed switched on in transition, which mattered in a second half that opened up. It was an efficient, high-impact performance in a game that demanded clarity in the box. Close behind in the ratings came Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat at 8.3 after his first-half goal, while Al-Shabab’s Yacine Adli led the home side on 7.7.
Impact from the bench and takeaways
Rodgers’ changes paid off. Mohammed Hamad Alqahtani came on at 74 minutes and quickly delivered the assist for 2-1, finishing with 13 of 16 passing, four progressive carries, and a strong 0.58 expected assists. Turki Alammar needed only 10 minutes to score, posting 0.42 xG and sealing the points in added time. Yasser Al-Shahrani also gave good minutes, completing his lone cross and winning a tackle in a compact cameo.
Al-Shabab’s bench had some bright touches, but the second half drifted away as Al-Qadsiah’s pressure mounted. The hosts won tackles 21 to 18 and led interceptions 11 to 7, yet that defensive workload reflected sustained pressure against them. With long balls and aerials going the visitors’ way, territory tilted and chance quality followed. On this evidence, Al-Qadsiah’s mix of structure, set-piece threat, and impact subs looks built for away days. For full player metrics and instant live updates from the Saudi Pro League, Sofascore remains a handy companion.