KSAsportz report
RIYADH — Al Hilal kicked off their Roshn Saudi League season with an impressive 2-0 victory against Al Riyadh at Kingdom Arena, continuing the momentum gained from their recent performance in the FIFA Club World Cup. The match drew a crowd of approximately 30,000 fans, showcasing significant local support.
The scoring commenced in the 18th minute when full-back Moteb Al Harbi struck from the edge of the area, a goal that highlighted his strong offensive capability. This was followed by Brazilian forward Malcom, who secured the second goal just before halftime with a precise finish, bringing his season tally to 1 goal in 1 match.
Debutant Darwin Núñez nearly made an early impact but saw his goal disallowed by VAR just 10 minutes into the match. Despite several missed opportunities, including attempts from Malcom, João Cancelo, and Abdullah Al Hamdan in the second half, the match ended with a decisive scoreline.
On the defensive front, goalkeeper Yassine Bono made two critical saves from Al Riyadh’s Toze, maintaining a clean sheet in what was Simone Inzaghi’s first match as head coach of Al Hilal. According to league statistics, Al Hilal currently boasts a 100% win record, reinforcing their status as title contenders this season.