FOOTBALL – AL Hilal defeated Al-Orubah 4-0 yesterday to keep their slim Saudi Pro League title hopes alive, reports Arab News.
The reigning champions are six points behind leaders Al Ittihad with just three games remaining.
After the Jeddah giants enjoyed a comfortable win on Sunday, defeating Al Fayha 3-0 at home, the pressure was on their Riyadh rivals, also playing at home. Interim coach Mohammed Al-Shalhoub, who took over this month after the departure of Jorge Jesus, knew that only a win would do against the relegation battlers.
As expected, the Blues attacked from the start but the visitors defended deeply and in numbers. Hamad Al Yami almost put the home side ahead at the midway point of the first half. After making a run on the right side, he was picked out by a fine floated pass from Ruben Neves but the full-back, stretching at close range, could not get enough power on his shot.
The home fans, who failed to turn up in large numbers, did not have to wait for much longer before the deadlock was broken, however. Salem Al Dawsari has been in fine goal-scoring form of late, but just before the half-hour mark he turned provider with a perfect cross from the left side of the penalty area for Aleksandar Mitrovic, unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box, to steer home. Just before half-time, the goalscorer went down in the box under a challenge but the referee waved play on.
The attacks continued after the restart and the task Al Orubah faced became more difficult within two minutes when Ibrahim Al-Zubaidi was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge on Malcom.
On the hour, Mohammed Kanno’s fierce effort from outside the area stung the palms of Gaetan Coucke and, despite the lead and the extra-man advantage, there was always a chance that the visitors might grab a goal that could all but hand the trophy to Al Ittihad.
However, Al Hilal effectively sealed the win in the 65th minute, thanks to Al Dawsari, who scored a typically classy goal. Cutting in from the left, he exchanged swift passes with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as he moved into the area and then lifted a perfect chip over the advancing goalkeeper.
Two late goals added to the ultimately emphatic nature of the victory: Kaio Cesar scored from the spot in the 90th minute and then grabbed another two minutes later.
In another match yesterday, Al Nassr crushed Al Okhdood 9-0.
Already out of title contention, the victory helped Al Nassr climb to third place and reach 63 points from 31 matches in the league.
This was also the side’s biggest win in the club’s history. The previous record stood at Nassr’s 8-0 win against Abha Club away from home last season in the league.
Earlier, skipper Ronaldo was not named in Al Nassr’s matchday squad for the fixture. Media reports suggest that head coach Stefano Pioli possibly kept the Portuguese forward out of the squad because of physical exhaustion. Regardless, the Riyadh-based side didn’t miss the star player.
The match was already out of the host’s reach after Nassr were leading four goals to nil at half-time. Jhon Duran scored a brace as Sadio Mane netted four. Ayman Yahya, Marcelo Brozovic, Mohammed Maran also got on the scoresheet.
Yahya broke the deadlock in the 16th minute before Duran and Brozovic gave the visitors a three-goal cushion within the first 30 minutes. Mane scored his first of the night when he converted from the penalty spot in first half’s stoppage time.
Soon after the break, Duran scored his second as Mane struck three goals in the span of 15 minutes. Maran added to Akhdoud’s misery after he converted a penalty for Nassr’s ninth goal of the match.
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