Masud Juma's assist helps Al-Faisaly to victory in Saudi
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© Al-Faisaly (Twitter)

STARS ABROAD Masud Juma's assist helps Al-Faisaly to victory in Saudi

Joel Omotto • 15:30 - 02.05.2023

The Harambee Stars striker may not have been on target but made his presence felt as his side kept their slim promotion hopes alive

Harambee Stars forward Masud Juma provided the assist as Al-Faisaly secured a 1-0 away win to Al-Hazem in the Saudi second division on Monday.

Juma, who started up front, may not have been on target but he made his presence felt when he set up Cape Verde midfielder Willy Semedo to slot home in the 54th minute.

Both teams had endured a goalless first half with few chances created but Al-Faisaly held on to claim all three points to retain their slim promotion hopes.

The match was not without drama, however, as Al-Hazem defender Abdurahman Al Dakheel saw red after 43 minutes for a rash tackle before Al-Faislay match winner Semedo also received his marching orders, nine minutes after scoring, for dissent.

Victory leaves Al-Faisaly fifth on the 18-team table on 50 points, five behind Al-Hazem who occupy the final promotion slot with five matches still remaining.

Juma has experienced a three-game goal drought, having failed to find the target since scoring twice in their 2-0 victory over Al Arabi on April 11.

He had scored in back-to-back games prior to that, opening his Al-Faisaly account on March 1 when his side lost 2-1 to Al Orubah before netting the equaliser six days later, in a 1-1 stalemate with Al-Qaisumah.

Juma, who made his mark by scoring 24 goals for Kariobangi Sharks to emerge top scorer in the 2017-18 season, joined the Saudi side from Morocco’s Difaa Hassani El Jadidi in February following the expiry of his contract.

The former Shabana, Bandari and Cape Town City striker had scored 16 goals in 56 appearances for El Jadidi since joining them 2020.