Five teams are still in danger of the drop, including Al Ittihad There’s still everything to play for with just one more week of matches DUBAI: With the destination of the Saudi Professional League title decided last week, last night’s 29th and penultimate round of matches of this disrupted season has produced a dramatic scenario at the bottom of the table with five teams still in danger of the dreaded drop. Remarkably, after Al Adalah’s relegation was followed by that of Al Hazem, four of those five clubs - Damac, Al Fayha, Al Taawoun and Al Ittihad - are on 32 points, while Al Fateh in 10th place are only a point ahead. For now, Damac occupy 14th place, the last of the relegation spots. Al Hazem’s fate was sealed at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium when they went down 1-0 to Al Shabab, and in truth their demise had been a formality for weeks now. Elsewhere however, there were still opportunities for teams to make dramatic breaks from the pack, with some taken in stunning fashion. Champions Al Hilal had secured a record 16th title last week, and their 3-1 win at Al Wehda halted the home team’s efforts to leapfrog Al Ahli - who lost at Al Abha Club - in third place. The latter still lead by one point and the fight for the last 2021 AFC Champions League spot will go into the final round of matches. The final day will now see two matches involving four relegation battlers facing each other and one match pitting two clubs vying for the last Champions League spot. Al Nassr, in second, their spot in Asia’s premier competition long guaranteed, had little to play for, but struggling giants Al Ittihad failed to take advantage and could only manage a 1-1 draw. They remain in deep trouble as the final day approached. The goal action took place in the early stages of the match with last season’s SPL top scorer, Abderrazak Hamdallah, giving visitors Al Nassr a fourth-minute lead at the empty King Abdallah Sports City. Al Ittihad eased the tension with an equalizer only seven minutes later, Ivorian international Wilfried Bony, who has struggled in the SPL since his January move, finally coming good for the Jeddah club. A win for Al Ittihad would have left them needing only a point in their final match to all but guarantee safety, but there would be no more goals in this nervous affair. Fabio Carille’s men now must take something from their last match to avoid relegation and, despite their poor form, will be delighted that it will be against bottom club Al Adalah on Wednesday. Damac proved to be one of the night’s big winners, their 2-0 win against eighth-placed Al Ettifaq secured with goals in each half from Argentinian forward Emilio Zalaya and Mohammed Harzan. While their goal difference of -16 means they continue to occupy the last relegation spot, they will be emboldened by the fact that a win at him against Al Fateh on the final day will see them overtake their opponents and guarantee safety, regardless of what happens elsewhere. Al Fateh themselves had claimed the 29th round’s other priceless three points by beating Al Taawoun, who could have confirmed their place in next season’s SPL with twin but who are now stuck on 32 points in 12th place. The winner came from on-form Dutch striker Mitchell te Vrede with only nine minutes left to leave coach Yannick Ferrera and his players dreaming of a great escape. Al Taawoun, who have 2020 AFC Champions League fixtures against Persepolis (home and away), Sharjah FC and Al Duhail before the end of September, will on Wednesday host the team directly below them in 13th place, Al Fayha, knowing that a win or draw will guarantee safety. Al Fayha have no option but to win. In the day’s other match 10-man Al Raed beat Al Faisaly 2-1 to overtake them in fifth place, Arnaud Djoum scoring the 91st minute decider to breathe life into his team’s fight for continental football next year. The result means that both clubs retain hopes of a third-place finish and qualification to the AFC Champions League, with Al Faisaly hosting Abha while Al Raed will travel to Al Ahli in third place for what could be the match of the day at the top of the table. Here is the full list of matches taking place at 8:35 p.m. (Saudi time) on Wednesday night: AL Adalah v Al Ittihad Damar v Al Fateh Al Hazem v Al Wehda A Faisaly v Abha Al Ahli v Al Raed Al Taawoun v Al Fayha Al Hilal v Al Shabab Al Nassr v Al Ettifaq