Al-Hilal missed the chance to go the top of the Saudi Pro League after he had come from behind to Salvage a 1-1 draw against Al-Riyadh.
The games played a dramatic meeting in Kingdom Arena on Friday, but neither of the teams could find a late winner.
Despite a clear start of Al-Hilal, it was the visitors who first forward. Mohamed Konate peeled the back of his defender to pound in the beaten cross of Sekou Lega, but a VAR check showed that he had left just too early.
The hosts dominated the ball but created few clear opportunities with it. Marcos Leonardo went closest to drag his efforts wide from the distant pole from a sleek corner on the left.
Konate chased Al-Hilal again just before the break and racet to swing one-on-one along Yassine Bounou. This time the offside flag went up, although the goal was given after a VAR assessment.
Just before the hourly trip, Al-Hilal benefited from another tight offside call after LEGA had drilled a low shot under Bounou in the right corner, but VAR again showed that he had wandered outside the defense of the hosts.
Moments later, Salem Al Dawsari equalized. None of the Al-Riyadh players saw his run left and he kept his calm to bend a nice shot around Milan Borjan and in the distant pole.
However, there was still time for more drama. Abdulelah Al Khaibari was punished for a handball in the box that the visitors raged, and after a long check, including a look at the monitor by the referee, the decision was destroyed because the captain had not touched the ball.
Eind whistle. #Hilriy 1-1 pic.twitter.com/subihftdjb
– alhilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_en) February 14, 2025
Data debrief: so close but still
Because Al-Eittihad only played on Saturday, this was the chance of Al-Hilal to add some pressure on the leasing leaders.
They sometimes drove their happiness – the two not allowed all -riyadh goals were excluded by a matter of centimeters – but in general they will feel that they deserved the victory.
They had 18 shots in the game to the six of Al-Riyadh, generated 1.88 expected goals (XG) and had 36 touches in the opposition box. The side of Sabri Lamouchi, on the other hand, hit the ball only eight times in the Al-Hilal area.
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