Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong was left disappointed as his own goal proved decisive in Al-Kholood’s 3-2 defeat to NEOM SC in the Saudi Pro League.
Despite the unfortunate moment, the Nigerian defender turned in a strong individual display that highlighted his leadership and composure at the back.
Al-Kholood took the lead through Kevin N’Doram before Ramiro Enrique added another, but NEOM responded with two goals from Said Benrahma and an own goal from Ekong to seal all three points. Former Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette also registered an assist for the hosts, showcasing NEOM’s attacking quality.
While the result didn’t go Al-Kholood’s way, Ekong’s performance stood out. He completed 42 passes, including four progressive balls into the final third, and delivered seven accurate long passes. Defensively, he made two tackles, six clearances, and three recoveries, while winning 100% of his ground duels.
The 30-year-old center-back, who played 120 minutes in Al-Kholood’s recent King’s Cup fixture against Al-Najma, showed no signs of fatigue in what was his second game in three days.
Since returning from injury earlier this year, Ekong has made 12 appearances for club and country, continuing to prove his fitness and consistency.
The defeat drops Al-Kholood to ninth place in the Saudi Pro League table. They’ll aim to bounce back when they face Al Qadsiah in their next fixture.
