2021–22 Saudi Second Division League

Second Division League
Season2021–22
Dates29 September 2021 – 20 April 2022
ChampionsAl-Arabi (2nd title)
PromotedAl-Arabi
Al-Qaisumah
Al-Riyadh
RelegatedAl-Dahab
Afif
Al-Nojoom
Al-Thoqbah
Matches played367
Goals scored939 (2.56 per match)
Top goalscorerIsrael Abia
Youssef Trabelsi
(20 goals each)
Biggest home winAl-Entesar 6–0 Al-Bukiryah
(5 March 2022)
Biggest away winAl-Lewaa 0–4 Al-Saqer
(29 October 2021)
Al-Safa 0–4 Al-Jandal
(14 January 2022)
Al-Lewaa 0–4 Al-Arabi
(11 February 2022)
Al-Safa 0–4 Al-Taqadom
(12 February 2022)
Al-Sharq 0–4 Al-Dahab
(5 March 2022)
Al-Rayyan 0–4 Arar
(11 March 2022)
Highest scoringAl-Jandal 4–4 Al-Zulfi
(31 March 2022)
Longest winning runAl-Arabi
(8 matches)
Longest unbeaten runAl-Riyadh
(17 matches)
Longest winless runAl-Lewaa
(16 matches)
Longest losing runAl-Thoqbah
Arar
(7 matches)
All statistics correct as of 20 April 2022.

The 2021–22 Saudi Second Division was the first season of the Saudi Second Division League after its rebrand, and the 46th season since its establishment in 1976. The season began on 29 September 2021 and concluded on 20 April 2022 with the final. The group stage draw was held on 8 June 2021.[1]

The season was originally scheduled to conclude on 16 April with the final. However, it was announced that both the final and third-place play-off would be postponed due to an ongoing investigation into match-fixing allegations.[2] The investigation was concluded on 12 April with no evidence of any match-fixing and the new date for the final was announced as 20 April.[3]

The final was played on 20 April 2022 between Al-Arabi and Al-Qaisumah. Al-Arabi defeated Al-Qaisumah 1–0 to win their second title and first since 1986.[4]

Overview

Changes

On 9 October 2020, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the league would be increased to 32, with each group consisting of 16 teams, starting from the 2022–23 season. To prepare for these changes it was announced that only 3 teams would be promoted to the MS League and 5 teams would be relegated from the MS League in the 2021–22 season.[5]

Rebrand

On 29 September 2021, the newly appointed executive director of the SDL, Abdulmohsen Al-Duhaimi, announced a rebrand; beginning with the 2021–22 season, the competition would be known as the Second Division League (SDL). As part of the rebranding, a new logo was introduced.[6][7]

Team changes

A total of 28 teams are contesting the league, including 20 sides from the 2020–21 season, 4 relegated teams from the MS League, and 4 promoted teams from the 2020–21 Third Division.[8]

The following teams have changed division since the 2020–21 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
class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2021–22 Saudi Second Division Group A
Club Location Stadium
Al-Arabi Unaizah Al-Najma Club Stadium
Al-Bukiryah Al Bukayriyah Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium
Al-Dahab Mahd adh Dhahab Ohod Club Stadium (Medina)
Al-Entesar Rabigh Al-Entesar Club Stadium
Al-Lewaa Baqaa Al-Jabalain Club Stadium (Ha'il)
Al-Nojoom Al-Hasa (Al-Shuqaiq) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Rawdhah Al-Hasa (Al-Jeshah) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Riyadh Riyadh Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Al-Sadd Najaan Al-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj)
Al-Saqer Buraidah (Al-Basr) Al-Taawoun Club Stadium
Al-Sharq Ad-Dilam Al-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj)
Al-Washm Shaqra Al-Washm Club Stadium
Tuwaiq Al Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium
Wej Ta'if King Fahd Stadium
Group B
class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2021–22 Saudi Second Division Group B
Club Location Stadium
Afif Afif Al-Dera'a Club Stadium (Dawadmi)
Al-Ansar Medina Al-Ansar Club Stadium
Al-Jandal Dumat al-Jandal Al-Orobah Club Stadium (Sakakah)
Al-Nairyah Al Nairyah Al-Ettifaq Club Stadium
Al-Najma Unaizah Al-Najma Club Stadium
Al-Qaisumah Hafar al-Batin Al-Qaisumah Club Stadium
Al-Rayyan Haʼil Al-Jabalain Club Stadium
Al-Safa Safwa City Al-Safa Club Stadium
Al-Taqadom Al Mithnab Al-Najma Club Stadium (Unaizah)
Al-Taraji Qatif Al-Khaleej Club Stadium
Al-Thoqbah Khobar Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Zulfi Al Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium
Arar Arar Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sport City Stadium
Hetten Samtah King Faisal Sport City Stadium (Jizan)

Foreign players

The number of foreign players was increased from 2 players per team to 3 players per team.[9]

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

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Former Players
Afif Mauritania Mohamed Ajid Mauritania Albashir Sidi Nigeria Abdulhadi Adamw
Al-Ansar Ghana Emmanuel Banahene Guinea Alseny Soumah Mauritania Ablaye Sy
Al-Arabi Brazil José Anderson Mali Cheibane Traoré Tunisia Amir Omrani
Al-Bukiryah Ivory Coast Oussou Konan Tunisia Chaker Rguiî Tunisia Zied Ounalli
Al-Dahab Mali Amara Bagayoko Tunisia Halim Darragi Tunisia Kouni Khalfa
Al-Entesar Cameroon Patrick Ngoula Ivory Coast Gnamien Gislain Yikpe Chad Maher Sharoma
Al-Jandal Ivory Coast Guillaume Daho Tunisia Youssef Fouzai Tunisia Sabri Zaidi
Al-Lewaa Benin Sedjro Counou Mauritania Mohamed Soudani Nigeria Daniel Noseki Mali Amadou Samaké
Al-Nairyah Tunisia Hamza Hadda Tunisia Hamza Letifi Tunisia Bilel Touati
Al-Najma Tunisia Rabii Bouzid Tunisia Adel Hmani Tunisia Othman Saidi
Al-Nojoom Ivory Coast Lassina Diaby Jordan Mahmoud Shawkat Yemen Nader Sahal
Al-Qaisumah Mauritania Fody Traoré [ar] Sudan Mohammed Al-Dhaw Tunisia Seifeddine Jerbi
Al-Rawdhah Algeria Mohamed Taib Nigeria Israel Abia Tunisia Bilel Mohsni
Al-Rayyan Brazil Charles Oliveira Senegal Mouhamadou N'Diaye Tunisia Abdallah Berrabeh
Al-Riyadh Senegal Elhadji Malick Tunisia Mohamed Aouichi Tunisia Mahmoud Ben Salah
Al-Sadd Brazil Pingo Tunisia Mohamed Amine Khaloui Tunisia Oussama Omrani
Al-Safa Mali Ibourahima Sidibé Mali Moussa Coulibaly Mauritania Sidi Touda
Al-Saqer Mauritania Cheikh Saadné Mauritania Abdullahi Yatma Senegal Mame Balla Diop
Al-Sharq Angola Aneel Bkaki Ghana Godfred Asante Nigeria Christian Pyagbara
Al-Taqadom Mauritania Bekaye Wade Mauritania Mohamed M'Bareck Niger Adamou Moussa
Al-Taraji Tunisia Ahmad Boussaid Tunisia Mehdi Bensib Tunisia Mohammed Ali Ben Abdessalem
Al-Thoqbah Cameroon Ernest Anang Sudan Khaled Al-Naasan Tunisia Oussema Amdouni
Al-Washm Brazil Guilherme Café Brazil Lekão Brazil Mateus Totô Brazil Danilo Mariotto
Brazil Peninha
Chad Mohammed Alhaj
Al-Zulfi Brazil Paulo Cézar Tunisia Skander Ben Afia Tunisia Youssef Trabelsi
Arar Brazil Kaká Brazil Vanílson Ivory Coast Lamine N'dao
Hetten Brazil Douglas Lima Brazil Murillo de Souza Brazil Ricardo Verza
Tuwaiq Ghana Bernard Arthur Nigeria Chidiebere Nwakali Tunisia Bahaeddine Othman
Wej Tunisia Achraf Ben Dhiaf Tunisia Khaled Gharsellaoui Tunisia Slim Mezlini

Group A

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Arabi (C, P) 26 16 9 1 42 16 +26 57 Promotion to the FD League and Qualification to the Final
2 Al-Riyadh (P) 26 16 8 2 42 16 +26 56 Qualification for the third place play-offs
3 Al-Entesar 26 10 8 8 40 26 +14 38
4 Al-Bukiryah 26 9 10 7 37 35 +2 37
5 Al-Saqer 26 8 11 7 26 26 0 35[a]
6 Al-Rawdhah 26 9 8 9 38 42 −4 35[a]
7 Al-Washm 26 8 8 10 31 34 −3 32
8 Wej 26 7 10 9 26 30 −4 31
9 Al-Lewaa 26 6 12 8 29 39 −10 30[b]
10 Tuwaiq 26 7 9 10 23 32 −9 30[b]
11 Al-Sharq 26 6 9 11 28 32 −4 27[c]
12 Al-Sadd 26 7 6 13 23 38 −15 27[c]
13 Al-Dahab (R) 26 6 8 12 24 31 −7 26 Relegation to the Third Division
14 Al-Nojoom (R) 26 5 8 13 26 38 −12 23
Updated to match(es) played on 30 March 2022. Source: saff.com.sa
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-Head points; 3) Head-to-Head goal difference; 4) Head-to-Head goals scored; 5) Total goal difference; 6) Total goals scored; 7) Play-off (only for deciding champion, promotion and relegation).[10]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Al-Saqer finished ahead of Al-Rawdhah on overall goal difference: Al-Saqer 0, Al-Rawdhah −4 (Al-Rawdhah 0–1 Al-Saqer, Al-Saqer 0–1 Al-Rawdhah).
  2. ^ a b Al-Lewaa finished ahead of Tuwaiq on head-to-head points: Tuwaiq 1–2 Al-Lewaa, Al-Lewaa 1–1 Tuwaiq.
  3. ^ a b Al-Sharq finished ahead of Al-Sadd on overall goal difference: Al-Sharq −4, Al-Sadd −15 (Al-Sadd 2–1 Al-Sharq, Al-Sharq 1–0 Al-Sadd).

Results

Home \ Away ARB BUK DAH ENT LEW NOJ RAW RIY SAD SAQ SHR WAS TUW WEJ
Al-Arabi 2–2 2–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 5–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–0
Al-Bukiryah 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–2 4–2 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–0 3–3 0–0 2–0
Al-Dahab 0–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–0 0–0 0–2 0–0 0–2 3–0 4–0 1–1
Al-Entesar 1–1 6–0 3–0 3–0 2–0 3–1 0–1 0–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 3–2 1–1
Al-Lewaa 0–4 3–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–4 3–2 3–2 1–1 3–1
Al-Nojoom 0–0 1–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–3 1–1 0–0 0–3 4–0 1–2
Al-Rawdhah 1–1 2–4 3–2 3–2 2–1 2–1 0–2 4–1 0–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–4
Al-Riyadh 1–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 4–0 4–1 1–1 3–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–0
Al-Sadd 1–1 1–0 1–2 2–4 1–2 1–2 0–2 1–2 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–1 0–0
Al-Saqer 0–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 3–2 0–1 1–2 0–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 3–2
Al-Sharq 1–3 1–1 0–4 0–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 2–2 0–1 3–0 1–2
Al-Washm 1–2 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–2 2–0
Tuwaiq 0–1 2–0 1–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 3–3 0–1 2–0 0–0 2–1 0–1 0–0
Wej 1–3 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 0–2 2–1 1–1 0–1 3–0 2–2
Updated to match(es) played on 30 March 2022. 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-Qaisumah (P) 26 17 3 6 39 23 +16 54 Promotion to the FD League and Qualification to the Final
2 Al-Taraji 26 15 6 5 41 30 +11 51 Qualification for the third place play-offs
3 Al-Najma 26 14 7 5 47 28 +19 49
4 Al-Zulfi 26 13 6 7 58 25 +33 45
5 Al-Ansar 26 9 11 6 38 33 +5 38
6 Al-Taqadom 26 10 6 10 34 33 +1 36[a]
7 Hetten 26 10 6 10 28 35 −7 36[a]
8 Al-Jandal 26 8 10 8 42 39 +3 34[b]
9 Al-Safa 26 9 7 10 22 28 −6 34[b]
10 Al-Rayyan 26 9 5 12 33 46 −13 32
11 Arar 26 7 6 13 38 50 −12 27
12 Al-Nairyah 26 5 9 12 21 33 −12 24
13 Afif (R) 26 4 11 11 33 42 −9 23 Relegation to the Third Division
14 Al-Thoqbah (R) 26 2 7 17 24 53 −29 13
Updated to match(es) played on 31 March 2022. 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).[10]
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Al-Taqadom finished ahead of Hetten on head-to-head points: Al-Taqadom 2–0 Hetten, Hetten 0–2 Al-Taqadom.
  2. ^ a b Al-Jandal finished ahead of Al-Safa on head-to-head points: Al-Jandal 1–1 Al-Safa, Al-Safa 0–4 Al-Jandal.

Results

Home \ Away AFI ANS JAN NAI NAJ QAI RAY SAF TAQ TAR THO ZUL ARA HET
Afif 2–2 1–1 0–0 0–2 0–1 1–4 3–0 2–0 2–3 2–2 1–4 0–1 2–2
Al-Ansar 3–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–3 2–2 4–0 3–2 3–1 2–1
Al-Jandal 1–1 2–2 1–2 3–3 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–1 4–1 0–0 4–4 1–4 0–0
Al-Nairyah 0–1 0–1 1–1 2–3 1–2 0–0 2–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 0–3 2–1 1–2
Al-Najma 2–2 1–1 2–1 4–0 1–0 2–3 1–0 2–1 2–0 5–2 2–0 2–4 3–0
Al-Qaisumah 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 3–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 2–1 1–1 4–0 1–0
Al-Rayyan 3–2 2–1 1–0 1–2 1–2 0–3 1–3 1–1 0–1 2–0 3–3 0–4 1–1
Al-Safa 0–0 1–2 0–4 0–0 2–0 1–0 3–0 0–4 0–0 3–2 1–0 2–0 0–1
Al-Taqadom 1–2 1–1 3–4 0–0 1–0 0–2 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–0
Al-Taraji 2–1 3–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 5–2 2–0
Al-Thoqbah 2–2 1–1 1–2 1–2 0–3 0–2 2–3 1–0 0–1 2–3 0–3 2–3 1–3
Al-Zulfi 1–0 1–1 3–0 2–0 0–0 5–0 4–0 0–1 5–1 6–1 3–0 2–3 3–0
Arar 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–2 2–0 0–1 0–0 0–2 0–3 1–2 1–1 1–2
Hetten 2–1 2–1 0–2 2–1 1–1 2–4 2–1 0–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–0 3–0
Updated to match(es) played on 30 March 2022. 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

Both teams that finish second in Groups A and B will face each other in a two-legged match with the winner gaining promotion to the FD League. The first leg was originally scheduled to be held on 8 April and the second leg on 14 April, however, it was both matches were postponed following an investigation into match-fixing allegations. Al-Riyadh, who finished second in Group A, faced Al-Taraji, who finished second in Group B.[11] The first leg was played on 15 April and the second leg on 20 April.[12] Al-Riyadh defeated Al-Taraji 3–2 on aggregate to earn promotion to the Saudi First Division League.


Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Al-Taraji 2–3 Al-Riyadh 1–1 1–2
First leg
Al-Taraji1–1Al-Riyadh
Abdessalem 77' Report Al-Rashidi 20'
Referee: Abdullah Al-Kharboush
Second leg
Al-Riyadh2–1Al-Taraji
M. Al-Shammeri 55'
Malick 65'		 Report Bensib 28'
Referee: Abdullah Al-Harbi

Final

The winners of each group will play a single-legged final on 20 April to decide the champion of the 2021–22 Second Division. As winners of Group A, Al-Arabi faced Al-Qaisumah, the winners of Group B. The match was held at Al-Arabi's home stadium due to them having more points.[13] Al-Arabi defeated Al-Qaisumah 1–0 to win their second title and first since 1986.

Al-Arabi1–0Al-Qaisumah
S. Al-Harbi 80' Report
Referee: Nahar Al-Baidhani

Statistics

Top scorers

As of 20 April 2022[14]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Nigeria Israel Abia Al-Rawdhah 20
Tunisia Youssef Trabelsi Al-Zulfi
3 Senegal Elhadji Malick Tall Al-Riyadh 17
4 Brazil Vanílson Arar 15
Tunisia Mohammed Abdessalem Al-Taraji
6 Saudi Arabia Fahad Hadl Al-Qaisumah 14
7 Tunisia Ahmad Boussaid Al-Taraji 13
Chad Maher Sharoma Al-Ansar
9 Brazil Ricardo Hetten 12
Saudi Arabia Abdullah Al-Qahtani Al-Arabi

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Ghana Emmanuel Banahene Al-Ansar Arar 3–1 (H) 9 October 2021 [15]
Nigeria Israel Abia Al-Rawdhah Al-Sadd 4–1 (H) 23 October 2021
Senegal Elhadji Malick Tall Al-Riyadh Al-Rawdhah 4–1 (H) 13 November 2021 [16]
Nigeria Israel Abia Al-Rawdhah Tuwaiq 3–3 (A) 26 November 2021
Angola Aneel Bakaki Al-Sharq Al-Entesar 3–0 (A) 10 December 2021
Brazil Vanílson Arar Al-Taqadom 3–3 (A) 18 December 2021
Tunisia Youssef Trabelsi Al-Zulfi Al-Qaisumah 5–0 (H) 14 January 2022
Brazil Vanílson Arar Al-Jandal 4–1 (A) 5 February 2022
Saudi Arabia Abdullah Al-Qahtani Al-Arabi Al-Lewaa 4–0 (A) 11 February 2022
Ghana Bernard Arthur Al-Taqadom Al-Safa 4–0 (A) 12 February 2022
Tunisia Youssef Trabelsi Al-Zulfi Afif 4–1 (A) 4 March 2022
Saudi Arabia Mohanad Al-Shudukhi Al-Najma Al-Thoqbah 5–2 (H) 4 March 2022
Chad Maher Sharoma Al-Entesar Al-Bukiryah 6–0 (H) 5 March 2022
Tunisia Youssef Trabelsi Al-Zulfi Al-Taqadom 5–1 (H) 11 March 2022
Saudi Arabia Faisal Al-Mutairi Al-Zulfi Al-Jandal 4–4 (A) 31 March 2022
Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away

Number of teams by province

Rank Province Number Teams
1 Eastern Province 7 Al-Nairyah, Al-Nojoom, Al-Qaisumah, Al-Rawdhah, Al-Safa, Al-Taraji and Al-Thoqbah
Riyadh Afif, Al-Riyadh, Al-Sadd, Al-Sharq, Al-Washm, Al-Zulfi and Tuwaiq
3 Al-Qassim 5 Al-Arabi, Al-Bukiryah, Al-Najma, Al-Saqer and Al-Taqadom
4 Ha'il 2 Al-Lewaa and Al-Rayyan
Mecca Al-Entesar and Wej
Medina Al-Ansar and Al-Dahab
7 Al Jawf 1 Al Jandal
Jazan Hetten
Northern Borders Arar

See also

References

  1. ^ "صدور قرعة دوري الثانية وتحديد موعد الانطلاق".
  2. ^ "قضية تلاعب تؤجل نهائي دوري الدرجة الثانية السعودي".
  3. ^ "الانضباط تعلن إغلاق الإجراءات القضائية في قضية الدرجة الثانية".
  4. ^ "رسمياً .. العربي بطلاً لدوري الدرجة الثانية".
  5. ^ "تقليص أندية دوري الأولى إلى 18 نادٍ ..و استحداث دوري الثالثة..و استبدال دوري المناطق بالدرجة الرابعة".
  6. ^ "تدشين الهوية الجديدة لدوري الدرجة الثانية".
  7. ^ "الأربعاء: تدشين الهوية الجديدة لدوري الدرجة الثانية".
  8. ^ "إليكم مستويات قرعة دوري الدرجة الثانية التي ستقام غدًا".
  9. ^ "الاتحاد السعودي يمنح أندية الثانية حريّة تحديد فئة اللاعب الأجنبي الثالث سواءً (أجنبي أو مواليد)".
  10. ^ a b "لائحة المسابقات والبطولات" [Regulations of Saudi Arabian Football Federation Competitions] (PDF) (in Arabic). SAFF. 1 June 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  11. ^ "خطف نقاط النعيرية وصعد مع العربي.. والترجي والرياض في الملحق".
  12. ^ "الرياض يحل ضيفاً ثقيلاً على الترجي من أجل خطف البطاقة الثالثة للصعود".
  13. ^ "القيصومة إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى للمرة الثانية".
  14. ^ "هدافين دوري الدرجة الثانية السعودي".
  15. ^ "الثلاثية الأولى في دورينا هذا الموسم، تُسجّل باسم لاعب نادي @FcAlansar إيمانويل بناهيني".
  16. ^ "الـهاتريـك الثالـث في دورينـا هذا الموسم يُسجّل باسم "تال الحاج مالك"لاعب نادي @RiyadhFC".