Saudi Pro League top 2 Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad stunned

Special Saudi Pro League top 2 Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad stunned
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang slots home the winner against Al-Hilal. (X/AlQadsiahEN)
Short Url
Updated 27 January 2025
Follow

Saudi Pro League top 2 Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad stunned

Saudi Pro League top 2 Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad stunned
  • Al-Qadsiah defeat table-toppers Al-Hilal 2-1 to remain in the title race
  • Mid-table Damac triumph over second-place Al-Ittihad by the same margin

On a day of upsets in the Saudi Pro League, table toppers Al-Hilal and second-place Al-Ittihad both fell to 2-1 away defeats, at the hands of Al-Qadsiah and Damac respectively.

The losses were only the second in 17 games this season for each of the title rivals. The results keep Al-Qadsiah very much in the title race, in third place on 37 points just six behind the top two.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did the damage for Al-Qadsiah very early and very late in the game. With less than two minutes on the clock, the former Barcelona and Arsenal ace volleyed home from close range after Cameron Puertas swung the ball over from the left corner.

The visitors were shell-shocked and had to wait until early in the second half before they managed to get back on level terms. Just moments after Julian Quinones had a chance to put his side two goals ahead, only to head over from a great position, Al-Qadsiah were punished when in-form Marcos Leonardo pounced on a loose ball just outside the area and drilled a perfect low shot just inside the right-hand post. It was his seventh league goal this month.

Al-Hilal then hit the woodwork and had a goal disallowed before Aubameyang struck again, in the 94th minute. Allowed too much time inside the area, he slotted the ball home.

Al-Hilal could at least take some comfort from the fact that Al-Ittihad, equal in points but 10 adrift on goal difference, also lost, falling 2-1 to Damac, also deep into added time.

Georges-Kevin N’Koudou put the hosts ahead after 17 minutes with his ninth goal of the season. But the Tigers canceled it out deep into first-half injury time, when French striker Karim Benzema got on the end of a curling cross from Abdulrahman Al-Oboud that had evaded three defenders, and headed high into the net at the far post for his 13th goal of the season.

Al-Ittihad pushed for the winner throughout the second half and thought they had it six minutes from time, but Danilo Pereira’s strike was ruled out for offside.

There was still time for a winner but in the event it went to the home side, once again provided by N’Koudou. Four minutes into added time, his shot from outside the area took a slight deflection that was enough to give goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic no chance. The result leaves Damac in 10th place on 21 points.


Favorable draw leaves Saudi clubs in good shape ahead of AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals

Al-Hilal supporters will be hoping for a record-extending fifth AFC Champions League title this season. (@Alhilal_FC)
Al-Hilal supporters will be hoping for a record-extending fifth AFC Champions League title this season. (@Alhilal_FC)
Updated 17 March 2025
Follow

Favorable draw leaves Saudi clubs in good shape ahead of AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals

Al-Hilal supporters will be hoping for a record-extending fifth AFC Champions League title this season. (@Alhilal_FC)
  • Al-Hilal are set to take on South Korea’s Gwangju FC, with Al-Ahli facing Buriram United of Thailand and Al-Nassr up against Yokohama F. Marinos

LONDON: The question for much of the AFC Champions League Elite tournament so far has been based around if anyone can stop the three Saudi Pro League teams.

After the draw was made for the quarterfinals in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli now know the identity of their opponent but the same question still remains. It would not be a surprise at all if the same trio make it to the last four, where they will inevitably start to play each other.

Indeed, it could be that the only teams who can prevent the Saudi Arabians are other SPL rivals especially as all the matches from April 25, when the next round kicks off, to the May 4 final, will all be single games in the city of Jeddah. Even if the clashes had been two-legged, the trio would be favorites, but one-off games at home is obviously a major advantage.

Al-Hilal, with a record four titles in the trophy cabinet back in Riyadh, will start it all off against Gwangju FC. South Korean teams can never be underestimated, K-League clubs having won 12 Asian championships (Japan are next with eight, two more than Saudi Arabia). However, Gwangju have not only never reached this stage before, but this is their first appearance in the tournament.

From the southwest of the East Asian country, near the more experienced two-time champions Jeonbuk Motors, Gwangju had their best-ever season last year and started well in the group stage, eventually qualifying comfortably. The Korean media summed it up with the headline on Monday: “Gwangju face a mountain to climb in Saudi Arabia.” With little Asian experience, and indifferent results at home, few will be expecting them to cause an upset.

Though with dangerous Albanian international Jasir Asani, top scorer with nine goals so far, and a tough spirit — they came back from two goals down in the second round clash to beat Japan’s Vissel Kobe – Hilal will need to be own their guard, especially after their scare in the last round when they lost the first leg in Pakhtakor before roaring back in the second.

If the Riyadh giants get past their inexperienced opponents, then there could be a semifinal against Al-Ahli. The Jeddah team are going well and will also benefit from huge support at home. Buriram United of Thailand have plenty of Asian experience but have only been to the last eight once, back in 2013. Again, Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle will say, and rightly so, that any team who makes it this far in Asia is an opponent to be respected and taken very seriously, but it would be a major shock if the team from the northeast of Bangkok could get a result by the Red Sea.

Al-Ahli have been in pretty good form at home but a couple of poor results mean that the Champions League is their best chance of a trophy this season. In Asia, they have been really flying and strolled past Al-Rayyan 5-1 on aggregate. They should really have too much for their Thai opposition at home, with Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney two standouts in Asia and Roberto Firmino also able to play.

If there is an all-Saudi semifinal, and if Al-Nassr can get past Yokohama F.Marinos, then the prospect of an all-Saudi final remains a possibility. Like Al-Ahli, the Riyadh club have never won the title before and the Champions League remains their best chance of major silverware this year.

Once again, the home team will be favorites but perhaps this is not as clear cut as in the other two ties. Yokohama topped the group in the eastern zone, winning six of their games, and got past Shanghai Port in the last round with ease in the end, after losing the first leg. Japanese teams are currently the best on the other side of the continent by some distance but the Kanagawa club are, however, struggling at home.

If Cristiano Ronaldo and his colleagues had to make the long journey to just outside of Tokyo for a first or second leg, it would look to be a tricky task, but in a one-off match on home soil, the expectations will all be on Al-Nassr and the biggest task may be handling the added pressure now that the SPL title is surely out of sight.

The winner of Al-Nassr vs. Yokohama will meet the winner of Qatar’s Al-Sadd and Kawasaki Frontale of Japan. At this stage, however, the money is all on the Saudi Arabians.


Al-Hilal win to keep in touch at the top

Al-Hilal win to keep in touch at the top
Updated 16 March 2025
Follow

Al-Hilal win to keep in touch at the top

Al-Hilal win to keep in touch at the top
  • The result means that Al-Ittihad, who left it late to defeat Al-Riyadh 2-1 on Thursday, are top with 61 points while Al-Hilal are in second with 57

Al-Hilal won 2-0 at Al-Taawoun on Saturday to cut Al-Ittihad’s lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League back to four points. 

Both Hilal and Taawoun had enjoyed success in Asian competitions during the week, and returned home to play out a hard-fought clash in Buraidah.  The champions' form in the league may have been patchy of late but they bounced back to return to winning ways with a strong performance. 

Al Hilal's Malcom in action with Al-Taawoun's Muteb Al Mufarrij during the Al-Hilal vs. Al-Taawoun match at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah on March 15, 2025. (REUTERS)
 

There were only 12 minutes on the clock when Mohamed Kanno put the defending champions ahead. Salem Al Dawsari swung over a corner from the left which was met by the midfielder who directed his header home.

Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a number of saves to maintain the champions’ lead though the Riyadh giants had, and missed, plenty of opportunities, but then with a quarter of an hour remaining, Marcos Leonardo added a second to seal the win.

Hamad Al Yami floated over a deep cross for the in-form Brazilian to head home for his 17th league goal of the season, just two behind top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

The result means that Al-Ittihad, who left it late to defeat Al-Riyadh 2-1 on Thursday, are top with 61 points while Al-Hilal are in second with 57. 

Al-Ahli also won in Asia in midweek but came home to lose 2-1 at Al-Okhdood to stay in fifth behind Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsiah.

The Jeddah club have been in fine form of late and were full of confidence and took the lead just before the half hour thanks to an own goal from Damion Lowe.

Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus before his team's clash with Al-Taawoun on March 15, 2025. (REUTERS)

It was all looking good for the Greens until the 95th minute when the hosts equalised through Saleh Al-Abbas. There was still time for it to get worse for Al-Ahli as Godwin Saviour struck to win the game for the relegation-threatened Al-Okhdood 

Al Ahli’s shock defeat means that they are in fifth in the table, on 48 points, three behind Al-Qadsiah and Al-Nassr. Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad are, however, out in front.


Ronaldo leads Al-Nassr to third in table

Ronaldo leads Al-Nassr to third in table
Updated 15 March 2025
Follow

Ronaldo leads Al-Nassr to third in table

Ronaldo leads Al-Nassr to third in table
  • Big-name attacking stars steal show in first half, Ronaldo sets pace
  • Comfortable cushion after first period

JEDDAH: Cristiano Ronaldo scored again to set Al-Nassr on their way to a 3-1 victory over Al-Kholood on Friday to move them into third in the table and keep their faint Saudi Pro League title hopes alive.

Al-Nassr’s big-name attacking stars stole the show in the first half with Ronaldo setting the pace.

The 40-year-old struck in the fourth minute with his 19th league goal of the season. The ball fell to the Portuguese star just outside the six-yard box and he made no mistake in guiding his shot into the bottom corner.

Five minutes later the visitors thought they were back on level terms as Myziane Maolida had the ball in the net, shooting home from near the penalty spot, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Sadio Mane extended Al-Nassr’s lead after 26 minutes. Ronaldo was involved, freeing Salem Al-Najdi down the left and his cross was met first time by the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich star.

There was still time before the break for Jhon Duran to give the home team a comfortable cushion. The Colombian picked up possession from Angelo outside the area and then shot low into the corner with a clinical finish.

The game fizzled out a little just before the hour as Al-Nassr were reduced to 10 men following Nawaf Boushal’s second yellow card.

Ronaldo was substituted soon after and while the five-time Ballon d’Or winner did not seem happy at the decision as he exited the pitch and headed down the tunnel, at least Al-Nassr had the points in the bag.

An own goal from Ali Lajami with 18 minutes to go gave some brief cause for concern, but game management meant Al-Nassr moved into third with the win, above Al-Qadsiah who missed the chance to go level on points with Al-Hilal in second after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Damac. The deadlock was finally broken after 101 minutes by a penalty from Habib Diallo.


Ronaldo, Duran take Al-Nassr into last 8

Ronaldo, Duran take Al-Nassr into last 8
Updated 11 March 2025
Follow

Ronaldo, Duran take Al-Nassr into last 8

Ronaldo, Duran take Al-Nassr into last 8
  • Ronaldo, who missed the first leg in Iran, kept his cool and produced a perfect Panenka penalty into the center of the goal to bag his seventh goal of the tournament so far
  • Duran got his second five minutes from the end — found in space on the right side of the penalty area — he fired a low shot into the far corner in emphatic fashion

Al-Nassr booked their AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final place on Monday with a comfortable 3-0 win over Esteghlal of Iran.

After a frustrating first leg ended 0-0 in Tehran a week earlier, Jhon Duran and Cristiano Ronaldo did the damage in Riyadh to dump the visitors out of the tournament.

Duran opened the scoring after just nine minutes in spectacular fashion. The Colombian, signed from Aston Villa in January, found space on the right corner of the penalty area and produced an exquisite lob that the goalkeeper got a hand to but could not prevent crossing the line.

After Sadio Mane was fouled in the area, Ronaldo, who missed the first leg in Iran, kept his cool and produced a perfect Panenka penalty into the center of the goal to bag his seventh goal of the tournament so far. 

What was already a tough task became mission impossible for the Tehran club after they were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half time. Mehran Ahmadi was shown a second yellow and as he exited the pitch, with a consoling arm of Ronaldo around his shoulders, he took the slim hopes of Esteghlal with him.

It was then a case of damage limitation and Al-Nassr remained in total control of the tie. Five minutes after the restart, Duran fired a fierce shot against the bar from just outside the area.

The Colombian got his second five minutes from the end. He was found in space on the right side of the penalty area and fired a low shot into the far corner in emphatic fashion.

It ended a perfect evening for the Yellows — seeking a first Asian championship — who are the first Saudi Arabian club to make the last eight.

Al-Ahli are expected to join them on Tuesday after winning their first leg 3-1 against Al-Rayyan of Qatar last week. Al-Hilal, however, have much more work to do after losing 1-0 at the Uzbekistan home of Pakhtakor.

Elsewhere, Al-Sadd of Qatar defeated Dubai’s Al-Wasl 3-1 to take the tie 4-2 on aggregate.


Al-Hilal return to winning ways, Al-Nassr stumble

Al-Hilal return to winning ways, Al-Nassr stumble
Updated 08 March 2025
Follow

Al-Hilal return to winning ways, Al-Nassr stumble

Al-Hilal return to winning ways, Al-Nassr stumble
  • With just 2 wins in last 6 league games, pressure was on Al-Hilal
  • Al-Nassr draw 2-2 with Al-Shabab to be 10 points behind leaders Al-Ittihad

RIYADH: Al-Hilal defeated Al-Fayha 2-0 on Friday to cut Al-Ittihad’s lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League to just four points while, despite another Cristiano Ronaldo special, Al-Nassr were held to a 2-2 draw by Al-Shabab in the Riyadh derby.

With just two wins in the last six league games, the pressure was on Al-Hilal but a first-half goal from Mohamed Kanno eased the worries of the defending champions. The midfielder was left unmarked near the penalty spot from a Ruben Neves corner from the right and headed home powerfully.

It put a spring in the step of the visitors but it was not until the 90th minute that Al-Hilal were certain of the three points. Aleksandar Mitrovic has been injured since January but was never going to miss when Salem Al-Dawsari pulled the ball back and the Serbian striker stroked home. It was not a vintage performance but the win was more than welcome for under-fire coach Jorge Jesus.

Back in Riyadh, Al-Nassr drew 2-2 with Al-Shabab and are now 10 points behind the leaders Al-Ittihad.  

It all happened toward the end of the first half. Abderrazak Hamdallah opened the scoring against his former club, putting Al-Shabab ahead from the penalty spot. Daniel Podence was brought down just inside the area and up stepped the Moroccan to smash the ball into the corner.

But Al-Nassr were ahead by the break. Two minutes into added time, the Yellows equalized. Al-Shabab cleared a left-sided Ronaldo free-kick that bounced out to Ayman Yahya who lashed it home from just inside the area.

Seven minutes into added time Ronaldo put Al-Nassr ahead. The 40-year-old picked up possession on the right side of the area and then smashed the ball home into the roof of the net for his 18th league goal of the season.

It was all looking good but, seven minutes into the second half, Al-Nassr were reduced to 10 men as Mohammed Al-Fatil was adjudged to have bundled over Podence as the Portuguese star ran for goal.

Midway through the second period Al-Shabab took advantage of their one-man advantage and were back on level terms when Mohammed Al-Shwirekh headed home from a corner.

Just 10 points separate the top five teams with 10 games remaining. It is all still to play for.