William Troost-Ekong was instrumental in Al Kholood’s dramatic 3-2 win over Al Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League on Friday, delivering a match-winning assist deep into stoppage time.
The Nigerian international set up Myziane Maolida for the decisive goal in the 100th minute, a strike that lifted Al Kholood out of the relegation zone.
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions. Jackson Muleka opened the scoring for Al Kholood from the penalty spot in the 26th minute, but Georginio Wijnaldum equalized just four minutes later with a close-range effort assisted by Moussa Dembélé.
Maolida restored Al Kholood’s lead in the 54th minute, only for Dembélé to level the score again in the dying moments, converting a 96th-minute penalty.
However, Troost-Ekong kept his cool under pressure, delivering a perfectly timed pass that Maolida fired into the net from outside the box to seal the victory.
After the match, Troost-Ekong shared his excitement on social media, posting a video with the caption: “2025 blood dey hot +3.”
The 31-year-old defender was a solid presence throughout the match, playing the full 90 minutes.
He has now made 14 league appearances for Al Kholood this season, proving to be a key figure in their battle to avoid relegation.
With the victory, Noureddine Zekri’s side climbed out of the relegation zone and will be looking to build on this momentum when they host Al Ahli in their next league game on Wednesday.
