2020–21 Saudi Second Division

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]

Saudi Second Division

Season	2020–21
Dates	30 October 2020 – 19 April 2021
Champions	Al-Akhdoud (2nd title)
Promoted	Al-Akhdoud Al-Orobah Al-Kholood Bisha
Relegated	Al-Hejaz Al-Mujazzal Al-Selmiyah Kumait
Matches played	366
Goals scored	947 (2.59 per match)
Top goalscorer	Elhadji Malick Mohammed Salem (22 goals each)
Biggest home win	Al-Dahab 5–0 Al-Najma (12 February 2021) Al-Jandal 5–0 Al-Hejaz (26 February 2021)
Biggest away win	Hetten 0–5 Al-Washm (11 December 2020)
Highest scoring	Afif 3–5 Al-Washm (31 October 2020) Wej 6–2 Al-Selmiyah (14 January 2021)
Longest winning run	Al-Washm (6 matches)
Longest unbeaten run	Al-Sadd (14 matches)
Longest winless run	Al-Arabi Al-Hejaz (11 matches)
Longest losing run	Al-Hejaz Al-Mujazzal (6 matches)
← 2019–20 2021–22 → All statistics correct as of 19 April 2021.

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

• Al-Dahab
• Al-Lewa
• Al-Najma
• Al-Selmiyah
• Al-Taraji
• Al-Zulfi
• Bisha
• Kumait

Relegated from MS League

• Al-Mujazzal
• Al-Taqadom
• Al-Ansar
• Hetten

From Second Division

Promoted to MS League

• Hajer
• Al-Diriyah
• Arar
• Al-Sahel

Relegated to the Third Division

• Al-Anwar
• Al-Jubail
• Al-Suqoor
• Al-Dera'a

Teams

;Group A

Al-Akhdoud

Al-Ansar

Al-Arabi

Al-Entesar

Al-Hejaz

Al-Jandal

Al-Lewa

Al-Qaisumah

Al-Sadd

Al-Safa

Al-Taqadom

Al-Zulfi

Bisha

Kumait

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

Afif

Al-Dahab

Al-Kholood

Al-Mujazzal

Al-Najma

Al-Orobah

Al-Rawdhah

Al-Riyadh

Al-Selmiyah

Al-Sharq

Al-Taraji

Al-Washm

Hetten

Wej

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

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

15 April 2021 (2021-04-15)

22:00 AST

Bisha University Stadium, Bisha

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-Orobah	3–3 (a.e.t.)	Al-Akhdoud
Rayllan 35' Al-Enezi 76' M. Al-Shammari 78'	Report	Taylon 8', 19', 45+2'
Penalties
M. Al-Shammari Rayllan Bensib Mansour	2–4	Mendes Al-Harthi Al-Shehri Al-Zubaidi

19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)

22:00 AST

Al-Orobah Club Stadium, Sakakah

Statistics

Top scorers

As of 19 April 2021^[12]

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Elhadji Malick	Al-Riyadh	22
	Mohammed Salem	Al-Kholood
3	Mohammed Al-Shammeri	Al-Qaisumah	18
4	Rayllan Bruno	Al-Orobah	16
5	Ismaël Bangoura	Al-Taraji	15
	Slim Mezlini	Al-Zulfi / Al-Arabi
	Mohammed Alhaj	Al-Washm
8	Hamza Messaadi	Al-Safa	13
9	Meqren Eid	Afif	12
10	Ahmad Boussaid	Al-Lewa	11
	Koffi Boua	Al-Rawdhah
	Guillaume Daho	Al-Jandal
	Taylon Correa	Al-Akhdoud

Hat-tricks

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

Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away

See also

• 2020–21 Professional League
• 2020–21 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League