Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong was on target for his Saudi Arabian side Al-Kholood in their 4-3 loss to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.
The Nigerian defender scored the opening goal of the game to put his side in the lead, but Al-Ittihad, playing at home, clawed their way back to secure the win.
Ekong put his side 1-0 up in the 15th minute with a header from a corner kick for his second goal of the season, and they extended their advantage when Myziane Maolida added a second in the 23rd minute.
A rattled Al-Ittihad pulled one back when Abdulrahman Al-Oboud found the net in the 35th minute to make it 2-1.
Dutch forward Steven Bergwijn then equalized for the home side from the penalty spot just before half-time, sending both teams into the break level.
The second half saw more goals, as Mohammed Kadesh put Al-Ittihad ahead for the first time in the match, before Bergwijn grabbed his second of the game and his team’s fourth.
Maolida then scored again for Al-Kholood to make it 4-3, setting up a tense finish, but Al-Ittihad held on for the win.
Al-Kholood's newly signed Nigerian midfielder Ambrose Ochigbo came off the bench to make his debut for the club.
Troost-Ekong’s performance vs Al-Ittihad
The Nigerian played the full 90 minutes and scored a goal while completing 20 of the 24 passes he attempted.
He made ten clearances—the highest in the game by any player—while also blocking one shot and making one interception.
Ekong registered 42 touches in the match, made one tackle, and recorded both a shot on target and a shot off target.
In duels, he won one of three aerial contests and one of four ground duels, capping off a solid individual performance despite his team’s defeat.
