Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: A highly entertaining affair at King Fahd International Stadium saw Asian powerhouses Al Hilal and Al Ittihad play out a 1-1 draw in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.
Al Hilal’s margin at the top of the league table erodes to just two points following Al Ahli’s win over Al Batin on Friday to set up an exciting second half to the season. Two-time Asian champions Al Ittihad remain in contention for a 2019 AFC Champions League spot with 24 points to their name in fifth place.
The hosts’ fortunes suffered a major blow early on when 2017 Asian Player of the Year Omar Khrbin was stretched off inside the opening 10 minutes with an ankle injury, and former Al Ittihad striker Mokhtar Fallatah replaced him.
Al Ittihad created multiple chances on the counter, utilising the space behind the Al Hilal defence. Striker Ahmed Akaichi was sent through on goal on two occasions, but was first denied by a last-ditch tackle from Mohamed Jahfali, then by goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.
Al Hilal’s first clear sight of goal came 20 minutes into the match when another former Al Ittihad forward, Gelmin Rivas, outjumped his marker to meet Fallatah’s cross, but the Venezuelan’s header sailed wide of Fawaz Al Qarni’s goal.
Ziyad Al Sahafi tested Al Habsi with a powerful header and Rivas responded with a long-range effort but the two goalkeepers were in top form, ensuring the first 45 minutes ended goalless.
The Tigers thought they had found a breakthrough when Fahad Al Muwallad squared for Akaichi at the far post, but the Tunisian fluffed his lines with the ball at his feet two yards from Al Habsi’s empty net.
Khrbin’s injury looked a blessing in disguise as the deadlock was finally broken through substitute Fallatah. The striker met Abdullah Otayf’s diagonal cross with a diving header to put Al Hilal ahead 10 minutes into the second half.
Kuwaiti international Fahad Al Ansari restored parity within six minutes, firing low from 30 yards out. The midfielder’s strike was deflected off Jahfali to wrongfoot Al Habsi.
There was late controversy when Mohamed Kanno’s thumping header from the corner kick forced goalkeeper Al Qatni into a top-drawer reflex save. Al Hilal players argued the ball had crossed the line, but to no avail as the referee waved play on and the score remained tied at 1-1 at the final whistle.