By Our Man in Riyadh
IT WAS the Carlos Junior show in Ar-Rass last night as the Brazilian sensation bagged a sensational hat-trick to put Al Hazm to the sword.
Al Shabab arrived at the Al Hazm Club Stadium looking like a team possessed, and by the time the final whistle blew, they had left the hosts in a heap after a ruthless 4-0 demolition.
While the first half was a cagey affair that ended goalless, the visitors emerged from the tunnel for the second period like a side with a plane to catch. It took just six minutes for the deadlock to be broken, and from there, the floodgates didn’t just open—they burst.
CARLOS JUNIOR proved exactly why he’s the main man for the Riyadh giants. His first came in the 51st minute, a clinical finish following some tidy work from Saad Yaslam.
But he wasn’t done there. Fourteen minutes later, he doubled his tally and Shabab’s lead, latching onto a pinpoint pass from Ali Al Asmari to silence the home crowd. He saved the best for last, completing his hat-trick in the 89th minute to take the match ball home and cement his status as the night’s undisputed MVP.
It wasn’t just the Junior show, though. Former Burnley captain JOSH BROWNHILL showed exactly why the Saudi Pro League is splashing the cash on Europe’s finest.
The midfield maestro was a class above all evening, pulling the strings and dictating the tempo. He got his reward in the 75th minute, stepping up to smash home a penalty with the kind of ice-cold composure that became his trademark at Turf Moor.
For Al Hazm, it was a night to forget. Despite a spirited first half where they managed to keep Shabab at bay, they fell apart like a cheap suit once the pressure was applied.
The loss leaves them reeling in the bottom half of the table, while Al Shabab climb the ladder, proving that when their stars align, they are a match for anyone in the division.
