2020–21 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League

The 2020–21 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League was the fourth season of the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League under its current name, and the 44th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 31 October 2020 as a consequence of the postponement of the previous season's conclusion due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Fixtures for the first half of the 2020–21 season were announced on 3 October 2020.[2] Fixtures for the second half were announced on 18 January 2021.[3]

Prince Mohammad bin Salman League
Season2020–21
Dates20 October 2020 – 31 May 2021
ChampionsAl-Hazem (2nd title)
PromotedAl-Hazem
Al-Fayha
Al-Tai
RelegatedAl-Bukayriyah
Al-Thoqbah
Arar
Al-Nojoom
Matches played380
Goals scored891 (2.34 per match)
Top goalscorerIbrahim Diomandé
(24 goals)
Biggest home winHajer 8–0 Arar
(25 May 2021)
Biggest away winAl-Khaleej 0–5 Al-Fayha
(13 April 2021)
Highest scoringHajer 8–0 Arar
(25 May 2021)
Longest winning run8 matches
Al-Hazem
Longest unbeaten run17 matches
Al-Fayha
Longest winless run15 matches
Arar
Longest losing run11 matches
Al-Thoqbah
All statistics correct as of 31 May 2021.

The first team to be promoted was Al-Hazem, following their 4–2 away win against Al-Sahel on 20 April. They set the record for the earliest team to secure promotion with six games remaining as well as most points, most wins and most goals in a season.[4] On 21 May, Al-Hazem secured their second title following a 1–0 away win against Hajer.[5] The second team to be promoted was Al-Fayha, following 0–0 home draw with Al-Tai on 20 May.[6] The final team to be promoted was Al-Tai who were promoted on the final matchday following a 2–0 away win over Arar.[7]

Team changes

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The following teams have changed division since the 2020–21 season.

Teams

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A total of 20 teams are contesting the league, including 13 sides from the 2019–20 season, 4 promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Pro League.

The first club to be relegated to the MS League was Al-Adalah, who were relegated after only a year in the top flight following a 1–1 home draw with Al-Raed.[8] On 4 September 2020, Al-Hazem became the second club to be relegated, ending a 2-year stay in the Pro League following a 1–0 defeat away to Al-Shabab.[9] On 9 September 2020, Al-Fayha became the third and final club to be relegated following a 1–0 defeat away to Al-Taawoun in the final matchday.[10] Al-Fayha were relegated after three years in the Pro League.

The first club to be promoted was Hajer who were promoted following a 1–0 home win against Al-Akhdoud on 13 August 2020.[11] The second club to be promoted was Al-Diriyah following a 1–1 home draw against Al-Qaisumah on 27 August 2020.[12] The third club to be promoted was Al-Sahel who were promoted following a 3–0 away win against Al-Suqoor on 28 August 2020.[13] The fourth and final club to be promoted was Arar who were promoted on the final matchday following a 1–0 away win against Al-Sharq.[14]

Hajer defeated Al-Diriyah in the final to win their 2nd Second Division title.[15] Arar defeated Al-Sahel in the third-place playoffs.

Al-Sahel and Arar will play in the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League for the first time in their history. Hajer return after a seasons absence and will play in their 29th overall season in the MS League. Al-Diriyah return to the MS League for the first time since getting relegated in 2015–16 season. They will play in their 4th season in the MS League. Al-Khaleej and Ohod will play in their 30th season in the MS League overtaking Al-Taawoun's record of 29 years in the second tier.

Stadia and locations

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Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Al-Adalah Al-Hasa (Al-Hulaylah) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Fateh Club Stadium
26,000[16]
7,000
Al-Bukayriyah Al Bukayriyah Al-Bukayriyah Club Stadium 3,000[17]
Al-Diriyah Diriyah Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium (Riyadh) 15,000[18]
Al-Fayha Al Majma'ah Al Majma'ah Sports City 7,000[19]
Al-Hazem Ar Rass Al-Hazem Club Stadium 8,000[20]
Al-Jabalain Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,000[21]
Al-Jeel Al-Hasa (Hofuf) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Fateh Club Stadium
26,000
7,000
Al-Kawkab Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium 5,200[22]
Al-Khaleej Saihat Al-Khaleej Club Stadium 10,000[23]
Al-Nahda Dammam Prince Fahd bin Salman Stadium 15,000[24]
Al-Nojoom Al-Hasa (Al-Shuqaiq) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium 26,000
Al-Sahel Anak Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar) 15,000[25]
Al-Shoulla Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium 5,200
Al-Tai Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,000
Al-Thoqbah Khobar Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium 15,000
Arar Arar Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sport City Stadium 5,650[26]
Hajer Al-Hasa (Hofuf) Hajer Club Stadium
Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
12,000[27]
26,000
Jeddah Jeddah Reserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City 1,000[28]
Najran Najran Najran Sport City Stadium 18,000
Ohod Medina Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium 24,000[29]

Foreign players

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The number of foreign players is limited to 4 per team.[30]

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

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Former Players
Al-Adalah   Everton   Fernando Gabriel   Savvas Gentsoglou   Rédah Atassi
Al-Bukiryah   Abderaouf Natèche   Mamadou Soro   Ward Al Salama   Mehdi Ressaissi   Bader Hassan
Al-Diriyah   Bilel Souissi   Hichem Essifi   Mahmoud Ben Salah   Mohamed Aouichi   Hermann Kouao
Al-Fayha   Soualio Ouattara   Samuel Owusu   Reuben Gabriel   Tunde Adeniji   William Alves
  Youssef Fouzai
Al-Hazem   Muralha   Karim Yoda   Ousmane Barry   Ibrahima Tandia
Al-Jabalain   Carlão   Diego Miranda   Sidevaldo Pereira [ar]   Ricardo Ribeiro   Edson Cariús
Al-Jeel   Francisco Pereira [ar]   Késsé Amangoua   Marcus Macauley   Mohammed Bassim   Sidevaldo Pereira [ar]
  Jonathan Béhé
Al-Kawkab   Manucho   Aliou Cissé   Jilani Abdessalam   Izaka Aboudou
  Youssoupha Mbengué
  Chaker Rguiî
  Zied Ounalli
Al-Khaleej   Hacène Ogbi   Rogerinho   Yannick N'Djeng   Samuel Sarfo   Muhanad Madyen
Al-Nahda   Cheibane Traoré   Hachem Abbès   Lassaâd Jaziri   Mossaâb Sassi
Al-Nojoom   Ulysse Ndong   George Akpabio   Ahmed Ben Salah   Lamin Samateh
  Anthony Bassey
Al-Sahel   Abdoulaye Dieng [ar]   Haythem Mhamdi   Sadok Touj   Mwape Musonda   Patrick Carvalho
  Ammar Jemal
Al-Shoulla   Lúcio Flávio   Pitty   Sylla Daouda   Piqueti   Junior Mapuku
  Harmony Ikande
Al-Tai   Daniel Amora   Gbagbo Junior Magbi   Ismail Kouakou   Zied Ounalli   Mohamed Tiaïba
  Jailson
  Jorge Fellipe
Al-Thoqbah   Abdelaziz Ali Guechi   Oke Akpoveta   Amir Omrani   Oussema Amdouni   Cosmos Dauda
  Mohammad Zureiqat
Arar   Carlos Geovane [ar]   Jackson da Silva   Malek Miladi   Zied Ben Salem   Gnamien Gislain Yikpe
  Udoh Etop
Hajer   Adriano Pardal   Lázaro   Peter Nworah   Oussema Boughanmi
Jeddah   Hamza Aït Ouamar   Ablaye Sy   Mohamed M'Bareck   Saith Sakala
Najran   Carlos Coppetti   Carlos Henrique   Jailson   Yazalde   Gbolahan Salami
  Jonatas
Ohod   Ibrahim Diomandé [ar]   Zakaria Lahlali   Gbolahan Salami   Abdessalem Hallaoui   Mabrouk Jendli
  Maher Hannachi

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Hazem (C, P) 38 28 7 3 77 27 +50 91 Promotion to the Pro League
2 Al-Fayha (P) 38 24 9 5 72 27 +45 81
3 Al-Tai (P) 38 23 8 7 58 33 +25 77
4 Al-Jabalain 38 22 10 6 53 27 +26 76
5 Hajer 38 15 10 13 49 37 +12 55
6 Ohod 38 13 15 10 51 52 −1 54
7 Al-Kawkab 38 13 13 12 47 48 −1 52[a]
8 Al-Khaleej 38 13 13 12 42 47 −5 52[a]
9 Al-Shoulla 38 13 12 13 37 33 +4 51
10 Al-Diriyah 38 13 9 16 34 39 −5 48[b]
11 Jeddah 38 13 9 16 48 54 −6 48[b]
12 Al-Adalah 38 10 16 12 44 39 +5 46[c]
13 Al-Sahel 38 11 13 14 34 48 −14 46[c]
14 Al-Jeel 38 11 11 16 37 52 −15 44
15 Najran 38 10 13 15 43 47 −4 43
16 Al-Nahda 38 9 15 14 37 45 −8 42
17 Al-Bukayriyah (R) 38 11 7 20 29 48 −19 40 Relegation to the Second Division
18 Al-Thoqbah (R) 38 10 7 21 45 60 −15 37
19 Arar (R) 38 4 14 20 28 62 −34 26
20 Al-Nojoom (R) 38 6 5 27 27 67 −40 23
Source: goalzz.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total goals scored; 6) Fair-play points (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).[31]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Al-Kawkab finished ahead of Al-Khaleej on overall goal difference: Al-Kawkab −1, Al-Khaleej −5 (Al-Kawkab 2–2 Al-Khaleej, Al-Khaleej 0–0 Al-Kawkab).
  2. ^ a b Al-Diriyah finished ahead of Jeddah on overall goal difference: Al-Diriyah −5, Jeddah −6 (Jeddah 1–2 Al-Diriyah, Al-Diriyah 0–1 Jeddah).
  3. ^ a b Al-Adalah finished ahead of Al-Sahel on head-to-head points: Al-Adalah 3–0 Al-Sahel, Al-Sahel 1–2 Al-Adalah.

Positions by round

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The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
Al-Hazem31111111111111111111111111111111111111
Al-Fayha19444232222222222232222222222222222222
Al-Tai1617191920191616151310878554455644564444444444433
Al-Jabalain22332423333333333323333333333333333344
Hajer91511115576565545765544566445555555665555
Ohod1289131010111213141513101211121111911999888986777789866
Al-Kawkab4468999111212999910111010121012151110107777666556797
Al-Khaleej6356131410107777876888774556566688911878678
Al-Shoulla1714131515151515161716161717151515151616151314151311101011101091097989
Al-Diriyah10117566556566668776667789910111110111212121515141210
Jeddah5101514141112911813111214141716161315161410131412121213121110111411111311
Al-Adalah7522334444445444678888777989998891010101112
Al-Sahel1412101012787101111121310131313171717171716161516141515141314131113131013
Al-Jeel137147812131391014151415161614121412101112111215151616151515141212121414
Najran18161212786889810111191012131513131013121113131312131413151314151515
Al-Nahda86891113141414151717161617141714109111215141614161414161616161616161616
Al-Bukayriyah1113161616171718181818181818191919191919181818181817171718171817181718171717
Al-Thoqbah1520171717161917171612141513129991114141617171718181817181718171817181818
Arar2018181819181819191919191919181818181818191920201919191919191919191919191919
Al-Nojoom1919202018202020202020202020202020202020202019192020202020202020202020202020
Leader
Promotion to the Pro League
Relegation to the Second Division
Updated to match(es) played on 31 May 2021. Source: [citation needed]

Results

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Home \ Away ADA BUK DIR FAY HAZ JAB JEL KAW KHJ NAH NOJ SAH SHO TAI THO ARA HJR JED NAJ OHD
Al-Adalah 0–0 0–2 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 1–1 0–1 3–0 1–1 3–1 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–2 0–2 1–1
Al-Bukayriyah 1–1 0–2 0–1 0–1 0–2 0–1 1–1 2–3 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–3 3–2 0–0 0–2 0–2 1–0 2–1
Al-Diriyah 1–0 1–2 2–2 0–1 0–1 2–1 2–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–1 0–2 0–1 1–0 3–0 0–1 0–0 0–0
Al-Fayha 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 3–1 4–0 3–1 0–0 3–2 4–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 5–2
Al-Hazem 1–4 2–1 2–0 1–0 0–0 4–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 0–1 5–0 0–0 5–1
Al-Jabalain 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 2–0 0–0 4–0 2–0 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 3–1 0–1 2–1
Al-Jeel 1–1 0–1 0–1 0–4 1–4 0–1 1–2 3–3 1–0 1–2 3–1 1–0 1–3 0–2 2–1 0–1 2–1 1–1 3–2
Al-Kawkab 1–1 2–1 2–3 2–1 1–1 2–2 1–2 2–2 2–2 2–0 0–0 1–2 1–2 2–0 0–1 1–1 3–2 1–2 1–0
Al-Khaleej 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–5 2–4 1–1 2–2 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–1 1–3 1–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 3–0
Al-Nahda 1–1 3–2 1–0 0–2 1–2 0–1 2–0 0–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 3–2 2–3
Al-Nojoom 1–3 3–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 1–3 0–1 0–1 1–1 0–3 1–3 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 1–3
Al-Sahel 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–4 0–1 1–1 1–3 0–0 2–2 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–0 4–1 0–2 1–1 1–0
Al-Shoulla 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–2 1–0 0–0 3–1 0–0 0–1 3–1 5–1 0–2 0–0 3–1 0–0 0–1 1–1 0–0
Al-Tai 1–3 2–1 3–2 1–0 3–3 1–3 1–0 2–1 3–0 3–1 4–1 2–0 1–0 3–1 0–0 0–2 1–0 0–0 0–0
Al-Thoqbah 1–2 1–2 2–2 0–1 1–2 3–2 1–2 1–2 1–0 1–1 4–0 0–1 2–3 1–2 2–1 2–1 3–1 0–2 2–2
Arar 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–4 1–5 1–2 0–1 0–0 2–3 3–1 1–0 3–2 2–3 0–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 0–1
Hajer 1–1 3–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–2 2–0 3–0 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–1 0–1 1–2 8–0 2–1 4–3 2–3
Jeddah 2–2 0–1 1–2 1–1 0–2 1–2 1–1 1–2 0–1 2–1 4–1 2–3 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–1
Najran 3–2 2–0 0–1 2–2 0–2 1–3 0–0 3–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 0–2 0–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–1 2–3 3–3
Ohod 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–5 3–2 1–1 0–0 2–3 4–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–1
Updated to match(es) played on 31 May 2021. Source: goalzz.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Statistics

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As of 31 May 2021

Scoring

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals[32]
1   Ibrahim Diomandé Ohod 24
2   Carlão Al-Jabalain 21
3   Ousmane Barry Al-Hazem 19
4   Mamadou Soro Al-Bukayriyah 15
5   Ibrahima Tandia Al-Hazem 13
  Amir Omrani Al-Thoqbah
  Karim Yoda Al-Hazem
8   Everton Al-Adalah 12
9   Tunde Adeniji Al-Fayha 11
  Adriano Pardal Hajer

Hat-tricks

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Player For Against Result Date Ref.
  Carlão Al-Jabalain Najran 3–1 (A) 21 October 2020 [33]
  Patrick Carvalho Al-Sahel Jeddah 3–2 (A) 3 November 2020 [34]
  Everton Al-Adalah Al-Tai 3–1 (H) 8 November 2020 [35]
  Abdullah Al-Dossari Al-Fayha Al-Sahel 4–0 (H) 29 January 2021 [36]
  Ibrahim Diomandé Ohod Al-Hazem 3–2 (H) 26 February 2021 [37]
  Tunde Adeniji Al-Fayha Ohod 5–2 (H) 21 March 2021 [38]
  Ibrahim Diomandé Ohod Al-Nojoom 3–1 (A) 20 May 2021 [39]
  Hassan Al-Solan Hajer Arar 8–0 (H) 25 May 2021 [40]
Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away

Clean sheets

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Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1   Moslem Al Freej Al-Fayha 18
2   Ricardo Ribeiro Al-Jabalain 17
3   Saad Al-Saleh Al-Tai 15
4   Abdulraouf Al-Daqeel Hajer 14
5   Bandar Al-Butti Al-Sahel 13
  Dawod Al Saeed Al-Hazem
7   Bilel Souissi Al-Diriyah 11
  Abdessalem Hallaoui Ohod
  Abdulrahman Dagriri Al-Shoulla
10   Abderaouf Natèche Al-Bukayriyah 10

Number of teams by region

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Rank Region Number Teams
1 Eastern Province 8 Al-Adalah, Al-Jeel, Al-Khaleej, Al-Nahda, Al-Nojoom, Al-Sahel, Al-Thoqbah and Hajer
2 Riyadh 4 Al-Diriyah, Al-Fayha, Al-Kawkab and Al-Shoulla
3 Al-Qassim 2 Al-Bukayriyah and Al-Hazem
Ha'il Al-Jabalain and Al-Tai
6 Mecca 1 Jeddah
Medina Ohod
Najran Najran
Northern Borders Arar

See also

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References

edit
  1. ^ "اتحاد كرة القدم يعلن مواعيد فترات تسجيل اللاعبين للموسم الجديد".
  2. ^ "أصدرت لجنة المسابقات في رابطة #الدوري_السعودي_للمحترفين جدول الدور الأول".
  3. ^ "المسابقات تحدد مواعيد مباريات الدور الثاني من دوري الدرجة الأولى للمحترفين".
  4. ^ "رسمياً: الحزم أول الصاعدين إلى دوري الكبار برقم قياسي جديد".
  5. ^ "رياضي / فريق الحزم بطلاً لدوري الدرجة الأولى .. والفيحاء ثاني الصاعدين".
  6. ^ "الفيحاء.. عودة سريعة إلى المحترفين".
  7. ^ "الطائي.. ظهور أول في المحترفين".
  8. ^ "العدالة يهبط رسمياً إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى إثر تعادله مع الرائد".
  9. ^ "المرة الثانية.. الحزم يهبط".
  10. ^ "السهلاوي يهزم الكابوس.. ويفجر الأفراح".
  11. ^ "صعود نادي هجر لدوري الأمير محمد بن سلمان للدرجة الأولى".
  12. ^ "الدرعية ثاني الصاعدين لـ دوري الدرجة الأولى".
  13. ^ "دربال.. الصعود الثاني".
  14. ^ "«عرعر» إلى الأولى بعد 40 عاماً من الانتظار".
  15. ^ "هجر يتوَّج بطلاً لدوري الدرجة الثانية 2019-2020".
  16. ^ "Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium".
  17. ^ "Albukiryah Club Stadium".
  18. ^ "Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium".
  19. ^ "ALMajma`a City Stadium".
  20. ^ "Alhazm Club Stadium".
  21. ^ "استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  22. ^ "al shoulla stadium".
  23. ^ "ملعب نادي الخليج - AlKhaleej Club Stadium".
  24. ^ "Prince Fahad bin Salman Stadium".
  25. ^ "استاد مدينة الأمير سعود بن جلوي الرياضية (الراكة)".
  26. ^ "أمير الحدود الشمالية يفتتح مدينة الأمير عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز بن مساعد الرياضية الأربعاء القادم".
  27. ^ "نادي هجر النموذجي".
  28. ^ "www.slstat.com/spl2015-2016en/stadium.php?id=24". slstat.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  29. ^ "Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium".
  30. ^ "اعتماد عدد اللاعبين الأجانب والمواليد المحترفين للموسم المقبل 20-21".
  31. ^ "اللائحة التنظيمية لدوري الأمير محمد بن سلمان لأندية الأولى" [Regulations of Prince Mohammed bin Salman League for Division One Teams] (PDF) (in Arabic). SAFF. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  32. ^ "Prince Mohamed Bin Salman League 2020/2021 Scorers".
  33. ^ "لاعب @ALJABALAIN79 كارلوس ايليزيكي أول لاعب ينجح في تسجيل هاتريك".
  34. ^ "مهاجم @clubsahel باتريك كارفالهو ثاني لاعب ينجح في تسجيل هاتريك".
  35. ^ "مهاجم @aladalahclub ايفرتون ناسيمنتو ثالث لاعب ينجح في تسجيل هاتريك".
  36. ^ "لاعب @Alfaihaclub عبدالله الدوسري رابع لاعب ينجح في تسجيل هاتريك هذا الموسم".
  37. ^ "لاعب @OHOD1936 سوريا إبراهيم خامس لاعب ينجح في تسجيل هاتريك هذا الموسم".
  38. ^ "لاعب @Alfaihaclub بابوتوندي سادس لاعب ينجح في تسجيل هاتريك".
  39. ^ "لاعب @OHOD1936 سوريا إبراهيم ينجح في تسجيل ثاني هاتريك له هذا الموسم".
  40. ^ "اعب @HajerClub حسن الصولان ينجح في تسجيل الهاتريك الثامن هذا الموسم".