Al-Diriyah Seal Historic Promotion to Saudi Roshn League After Playoff Drama

In a night that will be etched into the history of the club, Al-Diriyah officially secured their place in the Saudi Roshn League for the first time. The promotion was achieved through a grueling and emotional playoff final against Al-Ula at Riyadh’s Al-Awwal Park, where the tactical resilience of the 'Historic City' side eventually wore down their opponents. The 2-1 victory ensures that Al-Diriyah will join the elite ranks of Saudi football for the 2026-27 campaign, completing a remarkable journey through the divisions.

The match itself was a rollercoaster of emotions. Al-Ula took an early lead through a clinical finish from Cristian Guanca in the 29th minute, leaving Al-Diriyah to chase the game for much of the first hour. However, the momentum shifted in the 65th minute when Gaëtan Laborde converted a penalty—though only after a rebound off the post and a deflection, which modern VAR technology deemed legitimate. Despite a late red card for Sultan Al-Farhan that left them with ten men, Al-Diriyah displayed incredible defensive fortitude to force the game into extra time.

The decisive moment arrived in the 94th minute of play. Once again, it was the experienced Laborde who proved to be the hero, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to slot home the winner and send the traveling supporters into a frenzy. As reported by Arriyadiyah, the promotion of Al-Diriyah alongside Abha and Al-Faisaly represents a significant shift in the league's geography, bringing one of the Kingdom's most culturally significant regions into the sporting spotlight. Club officials have already promised significant investment in the squad to ensure that their stay in the top flight is not a short one, with several high-profile domestic transfers already being discussed for the new season.

Source: Arriyadiyah