KSAsportz report
RIYADH — In a thrilling showdown at the Kingdom Arena, Al Hilal showcased remarkable resilience as they overcame both a goal and a man deficit to defeat Al Fateh 2-1 on Saturday. With this win, Al Hilal closes the gap to Roshn Saudi League leaders Al Nassr to just one point, intensifying the competition at the top of the league.
Al Fateh took an early lead when Mourad Batna converted a penalty in the ninth minute after being fouled by Ruben Neves. This marked Al Fateh’s second penalty goal of the season, adding to their total of 5 goals scored this month.
However, Al Hilal responded decisively midway through the first half. Darwin Nunez, returning from injury, equalized with a deft finish past goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco, capitalizing on a precise through-ball from Kalidou Koulibaly. This marked Nunez’s fourth goal in just six league appearances, contributing to Al Hilal’s impressive tally of 20 goals scored this season.
Despite a setback when Nasser Al Dawsari received a red card in the 79th minute, Al Hilal maintained their composure. With only two minutes remaining, Neves redeemed himself by scoring the winning penalty after Sattam Tambakti was penalized for a handball in the box. This victory not only preserved Al Hilal’s unbeaten record this season but also extended their winning streak across all competitions to an impressive 11 matches.
“Even with 10 players, we wanted to win the game and thanks to God, we did,” said Koulibaly, who was named Man of the Match. “It was tough, but we showed a lot of character. Every team plays their best against Al Hilal, and the most important thing is to keep getting three points.”
Looking ahead, Al Hilal will be hoping for a crucial favor from Al Khaleej as they prepare to face table-toppers Al Nassr on Sunday, a match that could significantly impact the league standings.