Al-Hilal achieved a difficult and important victory over Al-Khaleej, with a score of 2-1, in the postponed match of the 28th round of the Saudi Roshan League competitions.
Al-Khaleej started the match strongly, as Joshua King opened the scoring early in the 11th minute, taking advantage of the confusion in Al-Hilal’s defense after a corner kick.
Al-Hilal quickly responded with successive attacking attempts, most notably Nasser Al-Dosari’s shot, which was brilliantly blocked by goalkeeper Anthony Morris, before Sergei succeeded. Savic equalized in the 34th minute, with a powerful header, taking advantage of a perfect cross executed by Ruben Neves from a dead ball.
The excitement continued before the end of the first half, as Al-Khaleej almost regained the lead, but King’s attempts did not translate into goals.
In the second half, the two goalkeepers excelled remarkably, as Yassine Bounou saved a clear chance for Al-Khaleej, while Morris continued his saves against Al-Hilal’s dangerous attacks.
And he scored. Savic scored a second goal for Al Hilal in the 65th minute, but the referee ruled it out for offside after returning to video technology, before Sultan Mendash settled the confrontation with a fatal goal in the 79th minute, taking advantage of a defensive error inside the penalty area.
In stoppage time, Karim Benzema scored a third goal for Al Hilal, but the referee also ruled it out for offside after reviewing the shot.
With this victory, Al Hilal raised its score to 77 points. In second place, reducing the gap with the leaders Al-Nasr to only two points, igniting the title race in the decisive rounds.
On the other hand, Al-Khaleej’s balance froze at 37 points in eleventh place, continuing its fluctuating results in the competition.