2021–22 Saudi Second Division

The 2021–22 Saudi Second Division was the 46th season of the Saudi Second Division 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]

Saudi Second Division
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)
2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 20 April 2022.

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]

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.[6]

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

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 Shaqraa Al-Washm Club Stadium
Tuwaiq Al Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium
Wej Ta'if King Fahd Stadium
Group B
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.[7]

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 Mohamed Ajid Albashir Sidi Abdulhadi Adamw
Al-Ansar Emmanuel Banahene Alseny Soumah Ablaye Sy
Al-Arabi José Anderson Cheibane Traoré Amir Omrani
Al-Bukiryah Oussou Konan Chaker Rguiî Zied Ounalli
Al-Dahab Amara Bagayoko Halim Darragi Kouni Khalfa
Al-Entesar Patrick Ngoula Gnamien Gislain Yikpe Maher Sharoma
Al-Jandal Guillaume Daho Youssef Fouzai Sabri Zaidi
Al-Lewaa Sedjro Counou Mohamed Soudani Daniel Noseki Amadou Samaké
Al-Nairyah Hamza Hadda Hamza Letifi Bilel Touati
Al-Najma Rabii Bouzid Adel Hmani Othman Saidi
Al-Nojoom Lassina Diaby Mahmoud Shawkat Nader Sahal
Al-Qaisumah Fody Traoré Mohammed Al-Dhaw Seifeddine Jerbi
Al-Rawdhah Mohamed Taib Israel Abia Bilel Mohsni
Al-Rayyan Charles Oliveira Mouhamadou N'Diaye Abdallah Berrabeh
Al-Riyadh Elhadji Malick Mohamed Aouichi Mahmoud Ben Salah
Al-Sadd Pingo Mohamed Amine Khaloui Oussama Omrani
Al-Safa Ibourahima Sidibé Moussa Coulibaly Sidi Touda
Al-Saqer Cheikh Saadné Abdullahi Yatma Mame Balla Diop
Al-Sharq Aneel Bkaki Godfred Asante Christian Pyagbara
Al-Taqadom Bekaye Wade Mohamed M'Bareck Adamou Moussa
Al-Taraji Ahmad Boussaid Mehdi Bensib Mohammed Ali Ben Abdessalem
Al-Thoqbah Ernest Anang Khaled Al-Naasan Oussema Amdouni
Al-Washm Guilherme Café Lekão Mateus Totô Danilo Mariotto
Peninha
Mohammed Alhaj
Al-Zulfi Paulo Cézar Skander Ben Afia Youssef Trabelsi
Arar Kaká Vanílson Lamine N'dao
Hetten Douglas Lima Murillo de Souza Ricardo Verza
Tuwaiq Bernard Arthur Chidiebere Nwakali Bahaeddine Othman
Wej Achraf Ben Dhiaf Khaled Gharsellaoui 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 MS 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[lower-alpha 1]
6 Al-Rawdhah 26 9 8 9 38 42 −4 35[lower-alpha 1]
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[lower-alpha 2]
10 Tuwaiq 26 7 9 10 23 32 −9 30[lower-alpha 2]
11 Al-Sharq 26 6 9 11 28 32 −4 27[lower-alpha 3]
12 Al-Sadd 26 7 6 13 23 38 −15 27[lower-alpha 3]
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).[8]
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. 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. Al-Lewaa finished ahead of Tuwaiq on head-to-head points: Tuwaiq 1–2 Al-Lewaa, Al-Lewaa 1–1 Tuwaiq.
  3. 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 MS 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[lower-alpha 1]
7 Hetten 26 10 6 10 28 35 −7 36[lower-alpha 1]
8 Al-Jandal 26 8 10 8 42 39 +3 34[lower-alpha 2]
9 Al-Safa 26 9 7 10 22 28 −6 34[lower-alpha 2]
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).[8]
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Al-Taqadom finished ahead of Hetten on head-to-head points: Al-Taqadom 2–0 Hetten, Hetten 0–2 Al-Taqadom.
  2. 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.[9] The first leg was played on 15 April and the second leg on 20 April.[10] Al-Riyadh defeated Al-Taraji 3–2 on aggregate to earn promotion to the Saudi First Division League.


Team 1 Agg. 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'
Al-Khaleej Club Stadium, Saihat
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.[11] 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[12]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Israel Abia Al-Rawdhah 20
Youssef Trabelsi Al-Zulfi
3 Elhadji Malick Tall Al-Riyadh 17
4 Vanílson Arar 15
Mohammed Abdessalem Al-Taraji
6 Fahad Hadl Al-Qaisumah 14
7 Ahmad Boussaid Al-Taraji 13
Maher Sharoma Al-Ansar
9 Ricardo Hetten 12
Abdullah Al-Qahtani Al-Arabi

Number of teams by province
Rank Province Number Teams
1 Eastern Province7Al-Nairyah, Al-Nojoom, Al-Qaisumah, Al-Rawdhah, Al-Safa, Al-Taraji and Al-Thoqbah
RiyadhAfif, Al-Riyadh, Al-Sadd, Al-Sharq, Al-Washm, Al-Zulfi and Tuwaiq
3 Al-Qassim5Al-Arabi, Al-Bukiryah, Al-Najma, Al-Saqer and Al-Taqadom
4 Ha'il2Al-Lewaa and Al-Rayyan
MeccaAl-Entesar and Wej
MedinaAl-Ansar and Al-Dahab
7 Al Jawf1Al Jandal
JazanHetten
Northern BordersArar

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. "إليكم مستويات قرعة دوري الدرجة الثانية التي ستقام غدًا".
  7. "الاتحاد السعودي يمنح أندية الثانية حريّة تحديد فئة اللاعب الأجنبي الثالث سواءً (أجنبي أو مواليد)".
  8. "لائحة المسابقات والبطولات" [Regulations of Saudi Arabian Football Federation Competitions] (PDF) (in Arabic). SAFF. 1 June 2019.
  9. "خطف نقاط النعيرية وصعد مع العربي.. والترجي والرياض في الملحق".
  10. "الرياض يحل ضيفاً ثقيلاً على الترجي من أجل خطف البطاقة الثالثة للصعود".
  11. "القيصومة إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى للمرة الثانية".
  12. "هدافين دوري الدرجة الثانية السعودي".
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