Al-Hilal defeats Al-Ettifaq 2-0 and strengthens its lead in the Saudi Professional League
Al-Hilal's first football team continued their dominant run at the top of the Saudi Professional League standings, reaffirming their status as "The Leader" after securing a well-deserved and valuable 2-0 victory over their guests, Al-Ettifaq. The exciting match took place this evening at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, as part of the 22nd round of the competition, in front of a large and supportive crowd.
Match details and Al-Hilal's dominance
From the opening minutes, Al-Hilal, coached by Jorge Jesus, dominated the match, imposing their usual attacking style and pinning the visitors back in their own half. The Blues didn't take long to translate this dominance into goals, with international star Mohamed Kanno opening the scoring in the 13th minute with a perfectly placed header, capitalizing on a brilliant cross from Brazilian star Malcom, thus sparking jubilation among the Al-Hilal fans.
Al-Hilal continued to press forward, while Al-Ettifaq players noticeably retreated, focusing solely on defensive duties and attempting counter-attacks that posed little threat. In the 31st minute, Brazilian Malcom once again made the difference with a powerful, low shot that Al-Ettifaq goalkeeper Paulo Victor (Rodak, as reported in the source) couldn't control. The ball rebounded to Salem Al-Dawsari, nicknamed "The Tornado," who expertly slotted it into the net for Al-Hilal's second goal, effectively sealing the victory for Al-Hilal early in the first half.
Record-breaking numbers and a historic career
With this victory, Al-Hilal not only secured three points but also continued to make history by achieving their sixteenth consecutive league win, raising their points tally to 53. This puts them firmly in first place and widens the gap with their closest rivals, bringing them one step closer to reclaiming the league title. This winning streak is a testament to the club's technical and administrative stability and the strength of their bench, which provides the team with sustained competitive edge.
Agreement situation and outcome impact
Conversely, this loss deepened Al-Ettifaq's woes, leaving them stuck on 35 points after suffering their sixth defeat of the season. This result puts the Eastern Province team in a position where they must reassess their strategy to return to winning ways and improve their league standing to secure a spot in international competitions or at least remain comfortably in the relegation zone.
The importance of winning at "Kingdom Arena"
This victory is particularly significant as it was achieved at Al Hilal's new home ground, the Kingdom Arena, which is rapidly becoming a formidable fortress, making it difficult for opponents to secure a positive result. The strong performance of the Al Hilal stars, led by Salem Al-Dawsari and Malcom, reflects the team's high level of readiness to compete not only domestically but also continentally, where Al Hilal is always considered a perennial contender for titles.
