2021–22 Saudi Second Division League Explained

Competition:Second Division League
Season:2021–22
Dates:29 September 2021 – 20 April 2022
Promoted:Al-Arabi
Al-Qaisumah
Al-Riyadh
Relegated:Al-Dahab
Afif
Al-Nojoom
Al-Thoqbah
Matches:367
Total Goals:939
League Topscorer:Israel Abia
Youssef Trabelsi
(20 goals each)
Biggest Home Win:
Biggest Away Win:










Highest Scoring:
Longest Wins:Al-Arabi
(8 matches)
Longest Unbeaten:Al-Riyadh
(17 matches)
Longest Winless:Al-Lewaa
(16 matches)
Longest Losses:Al-Thoqbah
Arar
(7 matches)
Updated:20 April 2022
Prevseason:2020–21
Nextseason:2022–23

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]

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

ClubLocationStadium
Al-ArabiUnaizahAl-Najma Club Stadium
Al-BukiryahAl BukayriyahAl-Bukiryah Club Stadium
Al-DahabMahd adh DhahabOhod Club Stadium (Medina)
Al-EntesarRabighAl-Entesar Club Stadium
Al-LewaaBaqaaAl-Jabalain Club Stadium (Ha'il)
Al-NojoomPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-RawdhahAl-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-RiyadhRiyadhPrince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Al-SaddNajaanAl-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj)
Al-SaqerAl-Taawoun Club Stadium
Al-SharqAd-DilamAl-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj)
Al-WashmShaqraAl-Washm Club Stadium
TuwaiqAl ZulfiAl-Zulfi Club Stadium
WejTa'ifKing Fahd Stadium
Group B
ClubLocationStadium
AfifAfifAl-Dera'a Club Stadium (Dawadmi)
Al-AnsarMedinaAl-Ansar Club Stadium
Al-JandalDumat al-JandalAl-Orobah Club Stadium (Sakakah)
Al-NairyahAl NairyahAl-Ettifaq Club Stadium
Al-NajmaUnaizahAl-Najma Club Stadium
Al-QaisumahHafar al-BatinAl-Qaisumah Club Stadium
Al-RayyanHaʼilAl-Jabalain Club Stadium
Al-SafaSafwa CityAl-Safa Club Stadium
Al-TaqadomAl MithnabAl-Najma Club Stadium (Unaizah)
Al-TarajiQatifAl-Khaleej Club Stadium
Al-ThoqbahKhobarPrince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-ZulfiAl ZulfiAl-Zulfi Club Stadium
ArarArarPrince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sport City Stadium
HettenSamtahKing 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.

ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Former Players
Afif Mohamed Ajid Albashir Sidi Abdulhadi Adamw
Al-Ansar Emmanuel Banahene Alseny Soumah Ablaye Sy
Al-Arabi José Anderson Cheibane Traoré
Al-Bukiryah Zied Ounalli
Al-Dahab
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 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

Results

Group B

Results

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.[10] The first leg was played on 15 April and the second leg on 20 April.[11] Al-Riyadh defeated Al-Taraji 3–2 on aggregate to earn promotion to the Saudi First Division League.

|}

First leg
Second leg

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.[12] Al-Arabi defeated Al-Qaisumah 1–0 to win their second title and first since 1986.

Statistics

Top scorers

[13]

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Israel AbiaAl-Rawdhahalign=center rowspan=220
Youssef TrabelsiAl-Zulfi
3 Elhadji Malick TallAl-Riyadh17
4 VanílsonAraralign=center rowspan=215
Mohammed AbdessalemAl-Taraji
6 Fahad HadlAl-Qaisumah14
7 Ahmad BoussaidAl-Tarajialign=center rowspan=213
Maher SharomaAl-Ansar
9 RicardoHettenalign=center rowspan=212
Abdullah Al-QahtaniAl-Arabi

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
3–1 (H) [14]
4–1 (H)
4–1 (H) [15]
3–3 (A)
3–0 (A)
3–3 (A)
5–0 (H)
4–1 (A)
4–0 (A)
4–0 (A)
4–1 (A)
5–2 (H)
6–0 (H)
5–1 (H)
4–4 (A)
Note(H) – Home; (A) – Away

Number of teams by province

RankProvinceNumber Teams
1Eastern 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
3Al-Qassim5Al-Arabi, Al-Bukiryah, Al-Najma, Al-Saqer and Al-Taqadom
4Ha'il2Al-Lewaa and Al-Rayyan
MeccaAl-Entesar and Wej
MedinaAl-Ansar and Al-Dahab
7Al Jawf1Al Jandal
JazanHetten
Northern BordersArar

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: صدور قرعة دوري الثانية وتحديد موعد الانطلاق .
  2. Web site: قضية تلاعب تؤجل نهائي دوري الدرجة الثانية السعودي .
  3. Web site: الانضباط تعلن إغلاق الإجراءات القضائية في قضية الدرجة الثانية .
  4. Web site: رسمياً .. العربي بطلاً لدوري الدرجة الثانية .
  5. Web site: تقليص أندية دوري الأولى إلى 18 نادٍ ..و استحداث دوري الثالثة..و استبدال دوري المناطق بالدرجة الرابعة .
  6. Web site: تدشين الهوية الجديدة لدوري الدرجة الثانية .
  7. Web site: الأربعاء: تدشين الهوية الجديدة لدوري الدرجة الثانية .
  8. Web site: إليكم مستويات قرعة دوري الدرجة الثانية التي ستقام غدًا .
  9. Web site: الاتحاد السعودي يمنح أندية الثانية حريّة تحديد فئة اللاعب الأجنبي الثالث سواءً (أجنبي أو مواليد). .
  10. Web site: خطف نقاط النعيرية وصعد مع العربي.. والترجي والرياض في الملحق .
  11. Web site: الرياض يحل ضيفاً ثقيلاً على الترجي من أجل خطف البطاقة الثالثة للصعود .
  12. Web site: القيصومة إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى للمرة الثانية.
  13. Web site: هدافين دوري الدرجة الثانية السعودي .
  14. Web site: الثلاثية الأولى في دورينا هذا الموسم، تُسجّل باسم لاعب نادي @FcAlansar إيمانويل بناهيني .
  15. Web site: الـهاتريـك الثالـث في دورينـا هذا الموسم يُسجّل باسم "تال الحاج مالك"لاعب نادي @RiyadhFC .