JEDDAH — Al Jandal, coming from the first division, pulled off a major surprise by eliminating Al Ahli from the King's Cup in the Round of 32, winning 2-1 in a match held at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah. It took Al Jandal only a few minutes into the first half to unsettle Al Ahli, taking the lead through Abdullah Mattuq in the 24th minute. Shortly after, the team earned a penalty, which Yassine Amari successfully converted in the 30th minute. The team, led by national coach Ziad Al-Afar, managed the match according to their plan, maintaining their lead until the final moments, despite Al Ahli reducing the deficit through Ivan Toney in the 83rd minute. With this victory, Al Jandal secured a spot in the Round of 16, while Al Ahli exited the tournament early, losing their bid for the second title of the new season under German coach Matthias Jaissle after being eliminated from the Saudi Super Cup in the semifinals. In Dammam, Cameroonian striker Ekambi led Al Ittifaq to the Round of 16 by scoring a brace against Al Adalah in a match held at the Al Ittifaq Stadium. The first half saw a lack of goals, but Ekambi broke the deadlock in the 77th minute before adding a second in stoppage time, sealing the victory.
