The Saudi Pro League always provides a big stage for established African stars to shine and Thursday was no different.
Congolese striker Jackson Muleka persevered despite failing to convert a first half penalty kick in Al Kholood's 2-1 victory over Al Fateh. The loanee from Beşiktaş ran onto a loose ball in the 70th minute and fired in a low shot to put Kholood beyond reach. Muleka has 5 goals and 4 assists in 19 matches for Kholood this season.
After it appeared that a scoreless draw would be the result, late stoppage time drama saw Al Qadisiya and Al Ittihad exchange goals in a 1-1 draw. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang snapped a three-match streak without scoring by firing in a first-time poacher's effort for Qadisiya before Karim Benzema equalized in the final moments for Ittihad.
In Mecca, Al Wehda came back from an early deficit to defeat Al Raed by a 3-1 score. Moroccan forward Karim El Berkaoui scored his 7th goal to put visitors Raed into the lead but that was as good as it got for the relegation battlers. Tunisian playmaker Saad Bguir equalized eight minutes later for the hosts with an absolute rocket of a free kick.
Former Nigeria national team striker Odion Ighalo is not quite scoring goals at the same rate in Saudi Arabia as he used to with Al Hilal. However, the 35-year-old still has his moments of brilliance and the Lagos-raised striker put the hosts up for good in the 76th minute.
Ighalo now has five league goals this season for Al Wehda who earn a critical victory against a fellow relegation struggler. Wehda remain at the foot of the table but are only two points from safety in what is shaping up to be a dramatic race to avoid the drop.
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