In a thrilling Saudi Clasico on Saturday evening, Al-Hilal defeated Al-Ittihad 3-2, ending the latter’s unbeaten run in the Saudi Pro League. The match, held at Kingdom Arena, drew a crowd of 22,808 fans, who witnessed a standout performance from Ollie Watkins, who contributed to all three of Al-Hilal’s goals, bringing his season tally to five goals and four assists in just five matches. This victory propelled Al-Hilal to the top of the league table with 21 points.
The atmosphere was electric as fans celebrated the Gulf Cup trophy presentation by Saudi national team goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais before kick-off. Players from both teams formed a guard of honor, uniting the crowd in support of the Green Falcons’ anthem, “Allah Ya Montakhabna.” However, the camaraderie quickly dissipated as the match commenced, with both teams vying for dominance in the league.
Key Moments in the Match
Al-Ittihad was notably missing key players George Ilenikhena and Richard Rios, which may have impacted their performance. Al-Hilal capitalized on this absence early in the match, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring just 12 minutes in. After a defensive error from Al-Ittihad, Ruben Neves set up Watkins, who assisted Martinelli for the opening goal.
Al-Ittihad responded quickly, with Youssef En-Nesyri equalizing in the 23rd minute after a swift counter-attack. However, Al-Hilal regained the lead shortly after when Watkins capitalized on a mistake by Danilo Pereira, poking the ball into the net at the half-hour mark.
Despite a disallowed goal for Watkins just before halftime, the second half saw Al-Hilal extend their lead. In the 64th minute, Watkins assisted Crysencio Summerville, who curled a shot into the far corner, making it 3-1. Al-Ittihad managed to pull one back late in the game with a penalty converted by Steven Bergwijn, but it was not enough to change the outcome.
League Implications
This defeat marked Al-Ittihad’s first of the season, leaving them in fourth place with 17 points, two behind Al-Qadsiah and Al-Nassr. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal’s victory solidified their position at the top of the table, showcasing their title aspirations as the season progresses.
As the Saudi Pro League continues, Al-Hilal will look to maintain their momentum, while Al-Ittihad will need to regroup and address their recent shortcomings. The league’s action continues on Sunday with three fixtures, including Al-Fayha hosting Al-Riyadh and Al-Shabab facing Al-Taawoun.
For more insights into the Saudi Pro League, visit Arab News. For broader sports coverage, check out FAME Delivered’s sports section.
