Sometimes, you think a game is already decided. Then, a late surge completely changes the story. That’s exactly what happened in the Saudi league’s third round. Al Hilal looked set for an easy win against Al Ahli, leading 3-0 on the road. But they somehow let that comfortable advantage disappear, ending up with a stunning 3-3 draw.
Ruben Neves played for Al Hilal, though Joao Cancelo missed the match due to injury. Theo Hernandez opened the scoring early, finding the net in the 12th minute. Malcom then grabbed two goals, first in the 24th minute and again in the 41st. They seemed to have the game locked down. Yet, the home team refused to quit. Ivan Toney sparked their comeback with two goals, scoring in the 78th and 87th minutes. Then, in the first minute of stoppage time, Demiral, a former Sporting player, found the equalizer. This unexpected result marks Al Hilal’s second draw in a row. They currently sit in seventh place in the league standings with five points.
Other league action also provided some drama. Al Qadsiah secured a 2-1 victory over Al Khaleej. Otavio was still out for Al Qadsiah, but Retegui gave them an early lead in the 10th minute. Joshua King pulled one back for Al Khaleej in the 78th minute. However, Al Salem sealed the win for Al Qadsiah deep into stoppage time at 90+1 minutes. Pedro Rebocho started for Al Khaleej in that match. This win puts Al Qadsiah at the top of the table for now, with seven points. Meanwhile, Al Fayha, coached by Pedro Emanuel, played to a goalless draw at home against Al Shabab.
Looking ahead to this coming Saturday, all eyes will be on Al Nassr. Their star-studded lineup, featuring Jesus, Ronaldo, and Félix, is set to host Al Riyadh, which includes Tozé in their squad. It promises to be another exciting fixture in the Saudi league.
