Al-Hilal defeated Al-Taawoun 2-0 on Saturday, reducing the gap to Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Ittihad to four points. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Al-Okhdood, further tightening the race for the top positions.
Both Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun entered the match on the back of midweek successes in Asian competitions. However, it was Al-Hilal, despite their recent patchy league form, who emerged victorious in Buraidah.
Mohamed Kanno gave the defending champions the lead in the 12th minute, heading home a Salem Al Dawsari corner. Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made several saves to maintain the lead, while the Riyadh side also missed numerous opportunities to extend their advantage.
Marcos Leonardo finally sealed the win in the 75th minute, heading in a deep cross from Hamad Al Yami. The goal was Leonardo’s 17th of the season, leaving him just two behind league top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.
Al-Okhdood 2-1 Al-Ahli
Al-Ahli, also victorious in Asia during the week, suffered a shock defeat at Al-Okhdood. The Jeddah club, in fine form recently, took the lead just before the half-hour mark through a Damion Lowe own goal.
However, the hosts staged a dramatic late comeback. Saleh Al-Abbas equalized in the 95th minute, and Godwin Saviour scored the winner for Al-Okhdood, boosting their survival hopes.
Title Race and Table Implications
Al-Ittihad, who narrowly defeated Al-Riyadh 2-1 on Thursday, remain top of the table with 61 points. Al-Hilal’s victory moves them to 57 points. Al-Ahli’s defeat leaves them in fifth place with 48 points, three behind both Al-Qadsiah and Al-Nassr (who have 51 each). The results highlight the competitive nature of the Saudi Pro League, with the title race and the battle for the top positions remaining intense.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.