Al-Hilal increases lead to six points

By Mohammed Al-Kinani

JEDDAH – Al-Hilal increased its lead at the top of Zain Saudi Professional League to six points after beating Al-Ahli 3-1 at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh Thursday.

In other matches, Al-Wehdah routed its host Najran 5-0 at Al-Okhdoud Club Stadium, while Al-Ittifaq beat visitors Al-Ra’id 3-0 at the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.

Swedish striker Christian Wilhelmsson put Al-Hilal in the lead before Yasser Al-Qahtani doubled the lead. Al-Ahli striker Hussain Al-Rahib cut the lead but Thiago Neves scored again for Hilal to seal the win.

Both teams came into the match looking for an early goal. Hilal banked on its wingers, while Ahli depended on its strikers Malik Mo’adh and Javier Tulido. Hilal’s strategy worked when Wilhelmsson thumped Hasan Khairat’s cross into the goal in the 24th minute.

Wilhelmsson was replaced by Eissa Al-Muhayani through injury five minutes after the break. Wilhelmsson’s exit eased pressure on the Greens, who started attacking their opponents more often.

Hilal midfielder Thiago Neves hit a strong kick in the 68th minute, but Ahli goalkeeper Yasser Al-Mosayleem denied him. Neves’ corner kick found Yasser Al-Qahtani who put it into Ahli goal.

Ahli coach then brought in Hasan Al-Rahib for Tulido and Badr Al-Kharashi, former Hilal player, for Mohammed Al-Sifri to put pressure on Hilal. These substitutions resulted in a goal for the visitors when Hasan Al-Rahib succeeded in heading a cross into Deayea’s goal in the 77th minute.

Neves, however, succeeded in securing Hilal another goal in extra-time when Mosayleem failed to stop his strong shot from the left.

Hilal sits on top of the standings with 41 points, six ahead of runner-up Shabab on 35. Al-Ahli, with a match in hand, remains in the sixth place on 20 points. Ahli’s new Brazilian coach Sergio Farias joins the team Saturday.

Mohannad Aseeri scored a hat trick as Moroccan midfielder Rafiq Abdussamad and Salman Al-Balawi added a goal each for Wehdah, which routed Najran 5-0.

The victory added three points to the Reds total to take it to the fourth place with 23 points. The team still has two matches in hand. Najran, on the other hand, is in the bottom with seven points.