Sultan Mandash leads Al Hilal to a 5-3 victory over Al Shabab in the Roshan League
In an unforgettable night of football in the Saudi Professional League, Sultan Mandash, the new signing for Al-Hilal, officially presented himself to the club's fans, delivering one of his finest performances since joining the team. This came during the thrilling Riyadh derby against their fierce rivals, Al-Shabab, at the SHG Arena in Riyadh, as part of the 24th round of the competition.
The match was a goal-fest, culminating in a resounding 5-3 victory for Al-Hilal. Mandash played a pivotal role, delivering a masterclass in attack that combined ferocious offensive prowess with unwavering defensive discipline. The 31-year-old didn't just make a name for himself; he also made his mark with a brilliant goal before returning to his playmaking duties, providing a crucial assist for his teammates, thus completing both scoring and assisting in a single match.
According to the match statistics, Mandash's brilliance wasn't limited to direct goal contributions; he was a key driver of Al-Hilal's attacking play, creating three clear scoring opportunities, including one that could have increased the goal tally. Defensively, he displayed remarkable tactical maturity, successfully recovering possession six times and clearing two dangerous attacks from the opposition. His excellent physical condition and precise positioning earned him a high rating of 8.2, making him one of the undisputed stars of the round.
Returning to the language of numbers and history, data from the global website Transfermarkt indicates that this performance is exceptional in the player's career; Mandash had never before scored more than two goals in a single match throughout his career. His combination of scoring and assisting against Al-Shabab is a numerical achievement he had only accomplished five times previously during his professional stints with Al-Faisaly, Al-Taawoun, and Al-Fayha, confirming that Al-Hilal's environment helped him reach his full potential.
This impressive performance is particularly significant given its timing, as Mendesh joined Al-Hilal during the last winter transfer window from Al-Taawoun. His display strongly silenced any doubts about his ability to contribute to a team of Al-Hilal's stature, confirming that he is a valuable acquisition capable of making a difference in crucial matches and contributing to his team's lead and their pursuit of the league title.
