A high-intensity meeting between the Roshn Saudi League’s top side and fourth-placed challengers unfolded in Dammam on Thursday, ending with Al Hilal rescuing a draw deep into stoppage time. The home team entered the contest riding a club-best seven-game winning sequence and quickly showed they could match the table leaders.
A high-intensity meeting between the Roshn Saudi League’s top side and fourth-placed challengers unfolded in Dammam on Thursday, ending with Al Hilal rescuing a draw deep into stoppage time. The home team entered the contest riding a club-best seven-game winning sequence and quickly showed they could match the table leaders.
Al Hilal struck first when Ruben Neves scored directly from a corner after eight minutes. However, the advantage lasted only two minutes, as Nahitan Nandez levelled almost immediately to keep the match balanced and energise the home crowd.
Julian Quinones then appeared to have secured victory for Al Qadsiah when he scored in the 76th minute. The goal took the Mexican forward to 17 league strikes this season, leaving him one behind Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney in the race for the golden boot.
Despite missing an earlier penalty, Salem Al Dawsari became decisive at the end, finding the net in the final moments of added time to seal a 2-2 outcome and preserve Al Hilal’s unbeaten league campaign.
The result keeps Al Hilal at the summit of the standings, three points ahead of second-placed Al Ahli. Al Nassr sit third, six points off the lead, ahead of their Friday fixture away to Al Kholood.
Al Qadsiah remain fourth following the draw, also six points behind the leaders. The encounter at Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium proved crucial in shaping the race near the top of the table.
Al Hilal, champions during the record-setting 2023-24 season, again demonstrated resilience late in matches. Their ability to secure points in difficult circumstances has been a key feature of their campaign.
Al Qadsiah manager Brendan Rodgers praised his squad’s bravery and competitive approach against a strong opponent. He highlighted the team’s mentality in major fixtures against sides such as Al Ittihad, Al Nassr and Al Hilal, stressing the importance of playing aggressively rather than defensively. While disappointed not to win, he focused on the positives from the performance.
Goalkeeper Koen Casteels described the match as physically demanding from start to finish and suggested a draw was a reasonable overall result. He also expressed frustration over refereeing decisions, mentioning a potential red card and a disputed corner that preceded Al Hilal’s second goal. Still, he emphasised the effort and fighting spirit shown by his teammates.
Al Hilal head coach Simone Inzaghi said he was pleased with how his team performed despite frustration over the final scoreline. He noted the number of chances created, acknowledged the missed penalty, and praised Al Qadsiah’s quality. Inzaghi said the display gave him optimism going forward.
Midfielder Ruben Neves called it a difficult contest, pointing to set-piece defending as an area needing improvement since dropped points have come from such situations. He added that Al Hilal always aim to win and felt the team merited more from the match based on performance.
