2019–20 Saudi Second Division

Football league season
Saudi Second Division
Season2019–20
Dates11 October 2019 – 12 September 2020
ChampionsHajer (2nd title)
PromotedHajer
Al-Diriyah
Al-Sahel
Arar
RelegatedAl-Anwar
Al-Jubail
Al-Suqoor
Al-Dera'a
Matches played266
Goals scored643 (2.42 per match)
Top goalscorerMohamed Aouichi
(15 goals)
Biggest home winAl-Kholood 4–0 Al-Anwar
(13 December 2019)
Hajer 4–0 Al-Suqoor
(13 February 2020)
Hajer 4–0 Afif
(12 March 2020)
Al-Rawdhah 4–0 Al-Jandal
(3 September 2020)
Biggest away winAl-Sadd 0–5 Hajer
(7 February 2020)
Afif 0–5 Al-Washm
(7 March 2020)
Highest scoringAl-Orobah 6–3 Al-Kholood
(14 February 2020)
Longest winning runHajer
(5 matches)
Longest unbeaten runAl-Sahel
Hajer
(23 matches)
Longest winless runAl-Dera'a
Al-Jubail
(10 matches)
Longest losing runAl-Dera'a
(6 matches)
All statistics correct as of 12 September 2020.

The 2019–20 Saudi Second Division was the 44th season of the Saudi Second Division since its establishment in 1976. Fixtures were released on 5 August 2019 and the opening round of matches was played on 11 October 2019. The league season was scheduled to conclude on 10 April 2020 with the final but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

On 7 March 2020, the Ministry of Sports announced that all matches would be played behind closed doors until further notice.[1] On 14 March 2020, the Ministry suspended all sports competitions indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.[2] On 11 June 2020, the Ministry of Sports announced the resumption of sports activities with training starting on 21 June and games starting after 4 August 2020 and played behind closed doors.[3] On 1 July 2020, the schedule for the remaining matches was released. It was announced that the league would resume on 13 August 2020 and end on 12 September 2020.[4]

On 12 September 2020, Hajer defeated Al-Diriyah 1–0 in the final to win their second title.[5]

Team changes

A total of 24 teams are contesting the league, including 16 sides from the 2018–19 season, 4 relegated teams from the MS League, and 4 promoted teams from the 2018–19 Third Division.[6]

The following teams have changed division since the 2018–19 season

To Second Division

Promoted from the Third Division

Relegated from MS League

From Second Division

Promoted to MS League

Relegated to the Third Division

Teams

Group A
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Locations of teams in the 2019–20 Saudi Second Division Group A
Club Location Stadium
Afif Afif Al-Dera'a Club Stadium (Dawadmi)
Al-Akhdoud Najran Al Akhdoud Club Stadium
Al-Entesar Rabigh Al-Entesar Club Stadium
Al-Jandal Dumat al-Jandal Al-Oruba Club Stadium (Sakakah)
Al-Jubail Jubail Al-Jubail Club Stadium
Al-Rawdhah Al-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Sadd Najaan Al-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj)
Al-Sahel Qatif Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar)
Al-Suqoor Tabuk King Khalid Sport City Stadium
Al-Washm Shaqra Al-Washm Club Stadium
Hajer Al-Hasa Hajer Club Stadium
Wej Ta'if King Fahd Stadium
Group B
class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2018–19 Saudi Second Division Group B
Club Location Stadium
Al-Anwar Hotat Bani Tamim Al-Anwar Club Stadium
Al-Arabi Unaizah Al-Najma Club Stadium
Al-Dera'a Dawadmi Al-Dera'a Club Stadium
Al-Diriyah Diriyah Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium (Riyadh)
Al-Hejaz Baljurashi King Saud Sport City Stadium (Al Bahah)
Al-Kholood Ar Rass Al-Hazem Club Stadium
Al-Orobah Sakakah Al-Oruba Club Stadium
Al-Qaisumah Hafar al-Batin Al-Qaisumah Club Stadium
Al-Riyadh Riyadh Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Al-Safa Safwa City Al-Safa Club Stadium
Al-Sharq Ad Dilam Al-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj)
Arar Arar Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sport City Stadium

Foreign players

The number of foreign players is limited to 2 per team.

Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.

Club Player 1 Player 2 Former Players
Afif Guinea Mohamed Kassory [ar] Tunisia Sabri Zaidi Tunisia Hamza Ben Abda
Al Akhdoud Brazil Emerson Freitas Brazil Lecão Brazil Patrick Carvalho
Al-Anwar Ethiopia Gatoch Panom Senegal Emmanuel Gomis Senegal Kemekho Cissokho
Al-Arabi Morocco Yassine Lakhal Tunisia Mohamed Aouichi Tunisia Slim Mezlini
Al-Dera'a Mali Mohammed Ndiaye Tunisia Khalil Zerwi Tunisia Haythem Gloulou
Tunisia Sameh Bouguerra
Al-Diriyah Tunisia Khaldoun Mansour Tunisia Mohamed Ben Ismail
Al-Entesar Ivory Coast Lamine Sylla Guinea Alkhaly Traoré Burundi Shassiri Nahimana
Guinea Joël Lamah
Al-Hejaz Tunisia Marouane Ben Amor Tunisia Rabii Hamri Gabon Henri Ndong
Nigeria Afeez Oladipo [ar]
Al Jandal Lebanon Mohamad Kdouh Sierra Leone Sheka Fofanah Ghana Mohamed Kassory [ar]
Mali Samba Diallo
Al-Jubail Burkina Faso Moïse Zongo Tunisia Maher Labidi Tunisia Cherif Kechrid
Al-Kholood Brazil Venancio Silva Mali Souleymane Demba Brazil Manolo Godoy
Al-Orobah Senegal Mignane Diouf Tunisia Fehmi Kacem Brazil Jefinho
Tunisia Bilel Tborki
Al-Qaisumah Angola Aneel Bkaki The Gambia Mamut Saine
Al-Rawdhah Brazil Juninho Aguiar Brazil Robert Egypt Ibrahim Mostafa
Al-Riyadh Brazil Chrles Oliveira Panama Sergio Moreno Ivory Coast Cedric Fein
Ghana Abdul Aziz Yusif
Al-Sadd Egypt Abdelhamid Sami Egypt Hamada El Ghannam Egypt Ahmed Fawzy
Al-Safa Tunisia Hamza Messaadi Tunisia Slim Ben Belgacem Bahrain Mahmood Al-Ajmi
Brazil Leo Alves
Al-Sahel Brazil Jone Pinto Tunisia Maher Haddad Brazil Talisson
Tunisia Slim Zakar
Al-Sharq Burkina Faso Issouf Ouattara Tunisia Ahmad Boussaid Egypt Amr El Shahat [ar]
Al-Suqoor Tunisia Amara Ferjaoui Tunisia Wassim Zaghdoud Ghana Frank Gyamfi
Al-Washm Benin Abdel Fadel Suanon Tunisia Ghaith Sghaier Nigeria Godwin Aguda
Nigeria Sunday Akinbule
Arar Ivory Coast Cedric Fein Tunisia Adel Hamani [ar] Brazil Geraldo
Hajer Brazil Adriano Pardal Brazil Rayllan Bruno
Wej Tunisia Alaeddine Gmach Tunisia Aymen Ezzine Ivory Coast Koffi Adama
Mali Lamine Traoré

Group A

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Hajer (P) 22 16 6 0 42 8 +34 54 Promotion to the MS League and Qualification to the Final
2 Al-Sahel (P) 22 12 10 0 31 15 +16 46 Promotion to MS League
3 Al-Akhdoud 22 11 5 6 29 20 +9 38
4 Al-Jandal 22 10 6 6 26 26 0 36
5 Al-Rawdhah 22 8 5 9 23 24 −1 29
6 Wej 22 7 6 9 21 28 −7 27
7 Al-Washm 22 7 4 11 28 24 +4 25
8 Afif 22 6 5 11 23 36 −13 23[a]
9 Al-Entesar 22 5 8 9 20 30 −10 23[a]
10 Al-Sadd 22 5 8 9 24 32 −8 23[a]
11 Al-Jubail (R) 22 4 8 10 19 26 −7 20 Relegation to the Third Division
12 Al-Suqoor (R) 22 4 3 15 16 33 −17 15
Updated to match(es) played on 3 September 2020. Source: Goalzz
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-Head points; 3) Head-to-Head goal difference; 4) Head-to-Head goal scored; 5) Total goal difference; 6) Total goals scored; 7) Play-off (only for deciding champion, promotion and relegation).[7][8]
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Positions determined by head-to-head points: Afif: 8 pts; Al-Entesar: 4 pts; Al-Sadd: 2 pts.

Group B

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Diriyah (P) 22 10 11 1 32 20 +12 41 Promotion to the MS League and Qualification to the Final
2 Arar (P) 22 10 10 2 30 17 +13 40 Promotion to MS League
3 Al-Kholood 22 9 10 3 39 30 +9 37
4 Al-Riyadh 22 7 9 6 25 21 +4 30
5 Al-Safa 22 7 8 7 25 26 −1 29[a]
6 Al-Hejaz 22 8 5 9 28 33 −5 29[a]
7 Al-Arabi 22 8 4 10 31 29 +2 28[b]
8 Al-Qaisumah 22 6 10 6 24 23 +1 28[b]
9 Al-Sharq 22 7 6 9 27 33 −6 27
10 Al-Orobah 22 7 5 10 29 27 +2 26
11 Al-Anwar (R) 22 6 4 12 26 38 −12 22 Relegation to the Third Division
12 Al-Dera'a (R) 22 3 6 13 23 42 −19 15
Updated to match(es) played on 4 September 2020. Source: Goalzz
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-Head points; 3) Head-to-Head goal difference; 4) Head-to-Head goal scored; 5) Total goal difference; 6) Total goals scored; 7) Play-off (only for deciding champion, promotion and relegation).[7][8]
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Al-Safa finished ahead of Al-Hejaz on head-to-head points: Al-Hejaz 0–0 Al-Safa, Al-Safa 2–1 Al-Hejaz.
  2. ^ a b Al-Arabi finished ahead of Al-Qaisumah on head-to-head points: Al-Qaisumah 1–3 Al-Arabi, Al-Arabi 0–0 Al-Qaisumah.

Third place play-off

Al-Sahel, who finished 2nd in Group A faced Arar who finished 2nd in Group B to decide the third-placed team.[9]

Al-Sahel1–1 (a.e.t.)Arar
Al-Zahrani 56' Report Dhaher 42'
Penalties
  • Jahfali soccer ball with red X
  • Al-Khamis soccer ball with red X
  • Awagi soccer ball with check mark
 1–4
  • soccer ball with check mark Sooqi
  • soccer ball with check mark Hamani
  • soccer ball with check mark Dhaher
  • soccer ball with check mark Al-Enezi
Referee: Fahad Al-Hothaili

Final

The winners of each group played a one-legged final to decide the champion of the 2019–20 Second Division. As winners of Group A, Hajer will face Al-Diriyah, the winners of Group B.[10] Hajer defeated Al-Diriyah to win their second title.[11]

Hajer1–0Al-Diriyah
Pardal 11' Report
Hajer Club Stadium, Al-Hasa
Referee: Bandar Al-Qahtani

Statistics

Top scorers

As of 4 September 2020[12]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Tunisia Mohamed Aouichi Al-Arabi 15
2 Saudi Arabia Mohammed Al-Shammari Al-Qaisumah 11
Saudi Arabia Salem Al-Khaibari Al-Kholood
4 Brazil Rayllan Bruno Hajer 10
Saudi Arabia Mohammed Majhol Al-Hejaz
Saudi Arabia Abdullah Al Yahya Al-Sadd
Brazil Adriano Pardal Hajer
8 Tunisia Ahmad Boussaid Al-Sharq 9
Saudi Arabia Abdullah Al-Qahtani Afif
10 Brazil Patrick Carvalho Al-Akhdoud 8
Saudi Arabia Omar Al-Ruwaili Al-Orobah

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Brazil Patrick Carvalho Al-Akhdoud Al-Washm 3–2 (H) 15 November 2019
Saudi Arabia Malek Al-Abdulmenem Al-Kholood Al-Arabi 3–2 (H) 17 January 2020
Tunisia Mohamed Aouichi Al-Arabi Al-Dera'a 4–2 (H) 25 January 2020
Saudi Arabia Omar Al-Ruwaili Al-Orobah Al-Kholood 6–3 (H) 14 February 2020
Brazil Juninho Aguiar Al-Rawdhah Al-Jandal 4–0 (H) 3 September 2020

See also

References

  1. ^ "وزارة الرياضة تُقرر تعليق الحضور الجماهيري في جميع المنافسات الرياضية في كافة الألعاب اعتباراً من يوم غدٍ السبت" (in Arabic).
  2. ^ "عام / وزارة الرياضة : تعليق النشاط الرياضي بالمملكة وإغلاق الصالات والمراكز الرياضية الخاصة". www.spa.gov.sa.
  3. ^ "Saudi Arabia will resume sports activities, without fans starting from June 21". Reuters. 11 June 2020.
  4. ^ "المسابقات تصدر جدول استكمال دوري الدرجة الثانية 2019-2020".
  5. ^ "بعد تجاوز الدرعية بهدف وحيد .. هجر يتوج بلقب دوري الدرجة الثانية".
  6. ^ "نتائج قرعة دوري الدرجة الثانية لموسم 2019 - 2020".
  7. ^ a b "لائحة المسابقات والبطولات بالإتحاد العربي السعودي لكرة القدم" [Regulations of Saudi Arabian Football Federation Competitions] (PDF) (in Arabic). SAFF. 1 June 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Image: DXr3B2vX4AEvWZ-.jpg, (612 × 1024 px)". pbs.twimg.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Saudi League 2nd Division 2019/2020 Third Place".
  10. ^ "درع الثانية بين هجر والدرعية".
  11. ^ "هجر يتوَّج بطلاً لدوري الدرجة الثانية 2019-2020".
  12. ^ "دوري الدرجة الثانية السعودي".