The 2020–21 Saudi Second Division was the 45th season of the Saudi Second Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 30 October 2020 as a consequence of the postponement of the previous season's conclusion due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] The group stage draw was held on 22 September 2020.[2] The final was played on 19 April 2021 between Al-Akhdoud and Al-Orobah. Al-Akhdoud defeated Al-Orobah 4–2 on penalties (3–3 after extra time) to win their second title and first since 1992.[3]

Overview

Changes

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all football competitions in Saudi Arabia were suspended until further notice on 14 March 2020.[4] On 11 June 2020, the Saudi Football Federation announced that the Third Division would be abandoned at the quarter-finals stage and that the remaining 8 teams would be promoted to the Second Division. They also announced that the number of teams in the Second Division would be increased from 24 teams to 28 teams.[5]

Team changes

A total of 28 teams are contesting the league, including 16 sides from the 2019–20 season, 4 relegated teams from the MS League, and 8 promoted teams from the 2019–20 Third Division.[6]

The following teams have changed division since the 2019–20 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 2020–21 Saudi Second Division Group A
Club Location Stadium
Al-Akhdoud Najran Al Akhdoud Club Stadium
Al-Ansar Medina Al-Ansar Club Stadium
Al-Arabi Unaizah Al-Najma Club Stadium
Al-Entesar Rabigh Al-Entesar Club Stadium
Al-Hejaz Baljurashi King Saud Sport City Stadium (Al Bahah)
Al-Jandal Dumat al-Jandal Al-Oruba Club Stadium (Sakakah)
Al-Lewa Baqaa Al-Jabalain Club Stadium (Ha'il)
Al-Qaisumah Hafar al-Batin Al-Qaisumah Club Stadium
Al-Sadd Najaan Al-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj)
Al-Safa Safwa City Al-Safa Club Stadium
Al-Taqadom Al Mithnab Al-Najma Club Stadium (Unaizah)
Al-Zulfi Al Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium
Bisha Bisha Bisha Club Stadium
Kumait Marat Kumait Club Stadium
Group B
class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2018–19 Saudi Second Division Group B
Club Location Stadium
Afif Afif Al-Dera'a Club Stadium (Dawadmi)
Al-Dahab Mahd adh Dhahab Ohod Club Stadium (Medina)
Al-Kholood Ar Rass Al-Hazem Club Stadium
Al-Mujazzal Al Majma'ah Al Majma'ah Sports City
Al-Najma Unaizah Al-Najma Club Stadium
Al-Orobah Sakakah Al-Oruba Club Stadium
Al-Rawdhah Al-Hasa (Al-Jeshah) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Riyadh Riyadh Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Al-Selmiyah Al-Salamiyah Al-Anwar Club Stadium (Hotat Bani Tamim)
Al-Sharq Ad Dilam Al-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj)
Al-Taraji Qatif Al-Khaleej Club Stadium
Al-Washm Shaqra Al-Washm Club Stadium
Hetten Samtah King Faisal Sport City Stadium (Jizan)
Wej Ta'if King Fahd Stadium

Foreign players

The number of foreign players is limited to 2 per team.[7]

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

Club Player 1 Player 2 Former Players
Afif Romania Petrișor Voinea Tunisia Amara Ferjaoui
Al-Akhdoud Brazil Kaká Mendes Brazil Taylon Correa Brazil Alexandre Matão
Al-Ansar Brazil Patrick Carvalho Tunisia Mohamed Ben Ismail Ghana Latif Amadu
Al-Arabi Mali Ichaka Diarra Tunisia Slim Mezlini Ghana Torric Jebrin
Al-Dahab Tunisia Ayoub Jertila Tunisia Khaldoun Mansour Egypt Mahmoud Khaled [ar]
Mali Djémoussa Traoré
Al-Entesar Cameroon Patrick Ngoula Ivory Coast Gnamien Gislain Yikpe Tunisia Khaldoun Mansour
Tunisia Khalil Bouhalala
Al-Hejaz Brazil Autemar Tunisia Rabii Hamri Tunisia Marouane Ben Amor
Al Jandal Ivory Coast Guillaume Daho Tunisia Sabri Zaidi
Al-Kholood Mauritania Mohamed Salem Dianos Tunisia Abdallah Berrabeh
Al-Lewaa Kuwait Talal Al-Ajami [ar] Tunisia Ahmad Boussaid Brazil Manolo Godoy
Al-Mujazzal Brazil Léo Pimenta Brazil Paulo Cézar Brazil Alandelon
Nigeria Micheal Azekhumen
Al-Najma Tunisia Othman Saidi Tunisia Oussama Omrani Tunisia Lamjed Ameur
Al-Orobah Brazil Rayllan Bruno Tunisia Mehdi Bensib
Al-Qaisumah Mauritania Fody Traoré [ar] Mauritania Moussa Samba Angola Aneel Fanset
Al-Rawdhah Ivory Coast Koffi Boua Tunisia Nidhal Delhoumi Brazil Vandinho Soares
Al-Riyadh Senegal Elhadji Malick Tunisia Houssem Louati
Al-Sadd The Gambia Dawda Ceesay Senegal Mignane Diouf
Al-Safa Tunisia Hamza Messaadi Tunisia Slim Ben Belgacem
Al-Selmiyah Senegal Emmanuel Gomis Tunisia Lamjed Ameur Tunisia Oussama Hsini
Al-Sharq Angola Aneel Fanset Tunisia Nizar Touil Tunisia Houssem Mekhinini [ar]
Al-Taqadom Mauritania Bekaye Wade Niger Adamou Moussa Bosnia and Herzegovina Nedo Turković
Cameroon Oumarou Kaina
Al-Taraji Guinea Daouda Bangoura Guinea Ismaël Bangoura
Al-Washm Nigeria Harmony Ikande Tunisia Alaeddine Abbès Brazil Stefano Pinho
Tunisia Hassene Mouelhi [ar]
Al-Zulfi Mali Moussa Camara Tunisia Chamseddine Samti Nigeria Hakeem Alabi
Tunisia Slim Mezlini
Bisha Mauritania Ahmed Fall Tunisia Youssef Trabelsi Honduras Franco Güity
Hetten Brazil Douglas Lima Senegal Valu Sar
Kumait Mauritania Ely Cheikh Voulany Tunisia Oussama Hsini Egypt Abdulrahman Khalil [ar]
Egypt Ramadan Rabie
Wej Ivory Coast Koffi Adama Tunisia Hassene Mouelhi [ar] Mauritania Ely Cheikh Voulany
Tunisia Achraf Ben Dhiaf

Group A

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Akhdoud (C, P) 26 15 8 3 42 22 +20 53 Promotion to the MS League and Qualification to the Final
2 Bisha (P) 26 13 10 3 40 19 +21 49 Promotion to MS League
3 Al-Jandal 26 14 6 6 35 22 +13 48
4 Al-Qaisumah 26 12 9 5 37 24 +13 45
5 Al-Safa 26 8 10 8 31 32 −1 34
6 Al-Entesar 26 8 9 9 26 30 −4 33[a]
7 Al-Sadd 26 7 12 7 29 28 +1 33[a]
8 Al-Ansar 26 8 7 11 24 27 −3 31[b]
9 Al-Zulfi 26 8 7 11 29 35 −6 31[b]
10 Al-Arabi 26 5 12 9 29 37 −8 27[c]
11 Al-Lewa 26 6 9 11 30 39 −9 27[c]
12 Al-Taqadom 26 4 13 9 27 34 −7 25[d]
13 Al-Hejaz (R) 26 6 7 13 28 44 −16 25[d] Relegation to the Third Division
14 Kumait (R) 26 3 11 12 28 42 −14 20
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).[8]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Al-Entesar finished ahead of Al-Sadd on head-to-head points: Al-Entesar 0–0 Al-Sadd, Al-Sadd 0–1 Al-Entesar.
  2. ^ a b Al-Ansar finished ahead of Al-Zulfi on overall goal difference: Al-Ansar −3, Al-Zulfi −6 (Al-Ansar 1–0 Al-Zulfi, Al-Zulfi 1–0 Al-Ansar).
  3. ^ a b Al-Arabi finished ahead of Al-Lewa on head-to-head points: Al-Arabi 0–0 Al-Lewa, Al-Lewa 1–3 Al-Arabi.
  4. ^ a b Al-Taqadom finished ahead of Al-Hejaz on overall goal difference: Al-Taqadom −7, Al-Hejaz −16 (Al-Taqadom 1–3 Al-Hejaz, Al-Hejaz 1–3 Al-Taqadom).

Results

Home \ Away AKH ANS ARB ENT HEJ JAN LEW QAI SAD SAF TAQ ZUL BIS KUM
Al-Akhdoud 2–0 4–1 0–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–0
Al-Ansar 1–1 1–0 2–0 1–2 1–2 0–2 0–0 2–1 0–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0
Al-Arabi 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–0 2–0 0–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–1 3–3 2–2
Al-Entesar 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 3–2 0–1 2–1 1–1 2–2
Al-Hejaz 1–5 2–2 1–2 0–0 3–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 0–0 1–3 2–3 1–3 1–0
Al-Jandal 2–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 5–0 2–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 0–2 4–1
Al-Lewa 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–3 1–2 2–5 1–2 2–0 2–1 0–0 0–0
Al-Qaisumah 1–0 0–0 0–1 2–0 4–3 0–0 1–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 4–1 2–2 3–0
Al-Sadd 3–1 2–1 1–1 0–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 2–2 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–2
Al-Safa 0–1 0–3 3–2 3–1 1–0 0–4 4–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–1
Al-Taqadom 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–2 0–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–2
Al-Zulfi 0–1 1–0 4–2 1–1 0–1 0–1 2–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–3 2–1
Bisha 1–2 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 2–0
Kumait 0–1 3–0 1–2 1–2 3–1 0–0 3–3 1–1 1–2 0–0 3–3 1–1 0–3
Updated to match(es) played on 9 April 2021. Source: saff.com.sa
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Group B

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Orobah (P) 26 16 6 4 51 28 +23 54 Promotion to the MS League and Qualification to the Final
2 Al-Kholood (P) 26 15 3 8 40 21 +19 48 Promotion to MS League
3 Al-Washm 26 12 9 5 47 28 +19 45
4 Al-Riyadh 26 12 8 6 47 34 +13 44
5 Al-Rawdhah 26 11 5 10 37 37 0 38
6 Al-Najma 26 9 8 9 36 40 −4 35[a]
7 Al-Taraji 26 9 8 9 31 35 −4 35[a]
8 Al-Sharq 26 9 7 10 31 30 +1 34[b]
9 Wej 26 10 4 12 36 40 −4 34[b]
10 Hetten 26 9 6 11 28 34 −6 33
11 Afif 26 8 7 11 35 47 −12 31
12 Al-Dahab 26 6 7 13 25 34 −9 25
13 Al-Mujazzal (R) 26 7 3 16 33 46 −13 24 Relegation to the Third Division
14 Al-Selmiyah (R) 26 5 7 14 24 47 −23 22
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).[8]
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Al-Najma finished ahead of Al-Taraji on head-to-head points: Al-Najma 1–1 Al-Taraji, Al-Taraji 0–1 Al-Najma.
  2. ^ a b Al-Sharq finished ahead of Wej on head-to-head points: Al-Sharq 1–0 Wej, Wej 1–2 Al-Sharq.

Results

Home \ Away AFI DAH KHO MUJ NAJ ORO RAW RIY SEL SHR TAR WAS HET WEJ
Afif 2–4 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 4–3 1–1 3–5 1–1 0–1
Al-Dahab 1–0 1–3 1–0 5–0 0–2 3–1 1–2 0–2 0–2 0–1 0–1 0–0 1–2
Al-Kholood 4–2 3–0 2–2 1–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–1 1–0 1–0
Al-Mujazzal 0–1 2–2 0–3 1–2 1–3 2–3 2–4 4–0 2–0 1–3 0–0 3–1 1–0
Al-Najma 1–1 2–0 3–2 4–3 1–2 2–0 1–1 1–2 2–3 1–1 2–1 2–1 0–1
Al-Orobah 5–1 2–1 1–2 3–1 2–2 3–2 1–0 3–0 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–0 2–0
Al-Rawdhah 5–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 2–1 1–1 3–2 2–1 1–0 0–1 2–3 1–1 0–1
Al-Riyadh 3–3 2–0 0–0 4–0 1–0 2–3 2–3 1–1 1–0 4–2 1–1 1–0 1–1
Al-Selmiyah 0–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–0 0–2 0–2 3–2
Al-Sharq 0–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–2 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 3–0 2–2 1–3 1–0
Al-Taraji 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–3 2–2 3–4 3–1 1–0 2–2 2–1 0–2
Al-Washm 0–1 0–0 2–1 4–1 3–0 0–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 3–1 2–1
Hetten 0–2 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–2 0–1 1–3 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–5 4–0
Wej 2–1 2–2 2–1 0–3 1–2 3–3 1–2 0–0 6–2 1–2 3–2 4–3 0–1
Updated to match(es) played on 9 April 2021. Source: saff.com.sa
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Third place play-off

Bisha, who finished 2nd in Group A will face Al-Kholood who finished 2nd in Group B to decide the third-placed team.[9]

Bisha1–4Al-Kholood
Al-Bishi 3' Report Al-Ruwailli 18'
Kharmi 35'
Salem 45+1'
Al-Khaibari 79'

Final

The winners of each group will play a one-legged final to decide the champion of the 2020–21 Second Division. As winners of Group A, Al-Akhdoud will face Al-Orobah, the winners of Group B.[10] Al-Akhdoud defeated Al-Orobah 4–2 on penalties to win their second title.[11]

Al-Orobah3–3 (a.e.t.)Al-Akhdoud
Rayllan 35'
Al-Enezi 76'
M. Al-Shammari 78'		 Report Taylon 8', 19', 45+2'
Penalties
M. Al-Shammari soccer ball with red X
Rayllan soccer ball with check mark
Bensib soccer ball with check mark
Mansour soccer ball with red X		 2–4 soccer ball with check mark Mendes
soccer ball with check mark Al-Harthi
soccer ball with check mark Al-Shehri
soccer ball with check mark Al-Zubaidi

Statistics

Top scorers

As of 19 April 2021[12]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Senegal Elhadji Malick Al-Riyadh 22
Mauritania Mohammed Salem Al-Kholood
3 Saudi Arabia Mohammed Al-Shammeri Al-Qaisumah 18
4 Brazil Rayllan Bruno Al-Orobah 16
5 Guinea Ismaël Bangoura Al-Taraji 15
Tunisia Slim Mezlini Al-Zulfi / Al-Arabi
Chad Mohammed Alhaj Al-Washm
8 Tunisia Hamza Messaadi Al-Safa 13
9 Saudi Arabia Meqren Eid Afif 12
10 Tunisia Ahmad Boussaid Al-Lewa 11
Ivory Coast Koffi Boua Al-Rawdhah
Ivory Coast Guillaume Daho Al-Jandal
Brazil Taylon Correa Al-Akhdoud

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Senegal Elhadji Malick Tall Al-Riyadh Al-Taraji 4–3 (A) 19 December 2020
Mauritania Ely Cheikh Voulany Wej Al-Selmiyah 6–2 (H) 14 January 2021
Guinea Ismaël Bangoura Al-Taraji Al-Mujazzal 3–1 (A) 26 January 2021
Saudi Arabia Khaled Al-Najrani Al-Safa Al-Lewaa 4–0 (H) 26 February 2021
Tunisia Sabri Zaidi Al-Jandal Al-Safa 4–0 (A) 4 March 2021
Ivory Coast Gnamien Yikpe Al-Entesar Al-Ansar 3–1 (H) 4 March 2021
Ivory Coast Guillaume Daho Al-Jandal Kumait 4–1 (H) 9 April 2021
Brazil Taylon Correa Al-Akhdoud Al-Orobah 3–3 (A) 19 April 2021
Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away

See also

References

  1. ^ "اتحاد كرة القدم يعلن مواعيد فترات تسجيل اللاعبين للموسم الجديد".
  2. ^ "تعرف على قرعة دوري الدرجة الثانية موسم 2020/ 2021".
  3. ^ "القاسم يتوج الأخدود ببطولة دوري الدرجة الثانية بعد انتصاره على العروبة".
  4. ^ "عام / وزارة الرياضة : تعليق النشاط الرياضي بالمملكة وإغلاق الصالات والمراكز الرياضية الخاصة". www.spa.gov.sa.
  5. ^ "4 أغسطس استئناف الدورى والكأس السعودى وإلغاء تصفيات الدرجة الثالثة".
  6. ^ "نتيجة قِرعة #دوري_الدرجة_الثانية للموسم الرياضي المُقبل!".
  7. ^ "اعتماد عدد اللاعبين الأجانب والمواليد المحترفين للموسم المقبل 20-21".
  8. ^ 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 23 September 2020.
  9. ^ "دوري الدرجة الثانية السعودي المركز الثالث".
  10. ^ "دوري الدرجة الثانية السعودي النهائي".
  11. ^ "الأخدود يخطف لقب دوري الدرجة الثانية السعودي".
  12. ^ "دوري الدرجة الثانية السعودي".
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_Saudi_Second_Division
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