Ekong makes Al Kholood debut in heartbreaking loss to Al Ittihad

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Nigerian defender William Troost-Ekong experienced a last-minute heartbreak in his debut for Al Kholood as the club suffered a 1-0 defeat to Al Ittihad in their Saudi Pro League opener on Saturday, August 24, 2024.

Troost-Ekong, who recently joined Al Kholood after ending his year-long stint with Greek champions PAOK, was deemed fit and ready to feature in the club’s first league game of the season against the Saudi giants. The Nigerian international was immediately thrust into action, leading Al Kholood’s defense in a tough encounter against a star-studded Al Ittihad side.

The visitors, boasting a lineup that included former Liverpool star Fabinho, World Cup winner N’Golo Kanté, and ex-Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, were expected to dominate. However, with Troost-Ekong commanding Al Kholood’s three-man defense, the formidable Al Ittihad attack struggled to break through the hosts’ resilient defense for 94 minutes.

Just as Troost-Ekong seemed poised to celebrate a clean-sheet debut, Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar netted a last-gasp goal, handing Al Ittihad all three points. The goal came as a bitter blow to Troost-Ekong and his teammates, who had fought valiantly throughout the match.

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Despite the narrow defeat, Al Kholood, newly promoted to the Saudi Pro League after their success in the FDL last season, can take pride in their performance. The team showed they could compete with the league’s top sides, and Troost-Ekong’s leadership in defense was a highlight.

Al Kholood will now focus on securing their first points of the season when they travel to the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium on August 29 to face Al Riyadh, who played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Odion Ighalo’s Al Wehda in their league opener.

Troost-Ekong’s wealth of experience, gained from his time at clubs like Udinese, Watford, Salernitana, and Gent, will be crucial as Al Kholood navigates the challenges of the Saudi Pro League in their bid to avoid relegation.

Earlier this year, Troost-Ekong was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he led Nigeria to a silver medal finish, further underscoring his importance to any team he plays for.