The final whistle blew on Matchday 12, sealing a 1-0 victory for Al-Taawoun over Al-Najma. Yet, the scoreboard, stark and uncompromising, tells a story far more complex than a simple triumph. Our verdict is clear: Al-Taawoun's three points were not a testament to attacking fluidity or clinical dominance, but rather a hard-won reward for sheer, grinding persistence in the face of their own inefficiency.

Pericles Chamusca’s men controlled the narrative of the game from the first minute, monopolizing possession with 60% of the ball. They flooded Al-Najma’s final third, registering a staggering 15 shots compared to their opponents' meagre 5. Corners were a barometer of this territorial superiority, with Al-Taawoun earning 10 to Al-Najma’s solitary one. By all conventional metrics, this should have been a comfortable, multi-goal victory.

However, the devil, as always, was in the details – or, in this case, the lack thereof. From those 15 attempts, only one solitary shot truly tested the Al-Najma goalkeeper. It’s a damning statistic for a team that managed 10 shots from inside the box. Forward Roger Martínez, despite ultimately proving to be the hero, epitomized this struggle, needing five attempts to register his lone, decisive shot on target.

This profligacy in front of goal was met by a determined, almost defiant, defensive display from Al-Najma. Mário Silva's side, despite their limited offensive ambition (just one shot on target themselves), executed a masterclass in containment. Their defensive line racked up an impressive 43 clearances, consistently snuffing out danger and repelling wave after wave of Al-Taawoun attacks. It was a strategy born of necessity, executed with remarkable discipline.

The breakthrough, when it finally arrived, felt less like an inevitable conclusion and more like a collective sigh of relief. In the 85th minute, Mohammed Al-Kuwaykibi threaded a crucial assist to Roger Martínez, whose effort finally found the back of the net. It was a moment of quality in a game where such moments were frustratingly scarce for the home side, a testament to Al-Taawoun's refusal to yield rather than a sudden unlock of attacking genius.

Amidst the attacking struggles, one player stood as an unshakeable pillar: Andrei Girotto. The defender earned an exceptional 9.3 rating, anchoring Al-Taawoun with a near-flawless 97% pass accuracy from his 67 passes. His five duels won showcased his individual battles, quietly ensuring that even as the offense faltered, the backline remained impenetrable. Girotto’s performance was the bedrock that allowed Al-Taawoun the luxury of patience, buying their attackers enough time to eventually find a way.

The verdict, then, is that Al-Taawoun secured the points they desperately needed, but not in the manner their statistical dominance suggested. They emerged victorious through sheer will, forced to dig deep by their own inability to convert overwhelming pressure. As they look ahead, the question isn't about their ability to create chances, but their capacity to finish them — a puzzle that Chamusca must solve if his side is to truly ascend.