Neom Turn the Tide on Al-Faisaly, Book Their Place in the King's Cup Round of 16

Neom punched their ticket to the Round of 16 of the King Salman Cup after coming from behind to beat their hosts Al-Faisaly 3-1 in a thrilling comeback win, in a Round of 32 clash that swung dramatically from start to finish.

Al-Faisaly Strike First

Al-Faisaly caught their guests off guard with an early opener, as defender Saud Haddad found the net in the 21st minute with a powerful, precisely placed strike from outside the box that gave the Neom goalkeeper no chance.

Neom Regain Their Footing

Neom refused to be rattled by the early setback, quickly imposing their rhythm on the match in search of an equalizer. That equalizer came in the 36th minute through Algerian winger Said Benrahma, who capitalized on a clear-cut chance inside the box to level the score and lift his side's spirits before the break.

Right before the half-time whistle, Neom were handed a valuable gift in the 45+3rd minute. Greek winger Yorgos Masouras whipped in a dangerous cross towards the penalty area, and Al-Faisaly defender Abdullah Sabet failed to deal with it cleanl the ball deflected off his foot and into his own net, putting Neom ahead for the first time as the first half came to a close.

Lacazette Seals the Result

In the second half, Neom managed the game with greater confidence, and their third goal arriving in the 68th minute put the result beyond doubt. French star Alexandre Lacazette capitalized on a mix-up in the Al-Faisaly defense following a corner kick that wasn't properly cleared, firing the ball straight into the net to make it 3-1 the goal that effectively sealed the visitors' progression.

Final Score and a Deserved Qualification

With this win, Neom completed a full comeback after falling behind, officially booking their place in the Round of 16 of the King's Cup, while Al-Faisaly bow out of the competition at the Round of 32 stage.

Goal Summary: