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October 5, 2024
JEDDAH: Al-Hilal staged a thrilling comeback to beat Al-Ahli 2-1 on a dramatic Saturday night in Jeddah, preserving their perfect record at the top of the Saudi Pro League.
Two goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic at a packed King Abdullah Sports City marked the sixth consecutive victory for last season’s champions and current league leaders.
Heading into the match, Al-Hilal boasted an impressive record of 38 wins and three draws from their previous 41 league games—an astonishing statistic. Unsurprisingly, coach Jorge Jesus expressed confidence earlier in the week, asserting that his team could compete in any of Europe’s top leagues, and this performance certainly backed that claim.
However, Al-Ahli struck first just 12 minutes into the match, fueled by an electric atmosphere. Firas Al-Buraikan executed a perfectly weighted chip over the top for the sprinting Gabri Veiga. Just inside, the Spaniard outpaced the defenders, rounded goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and calmly slotted the ball into an empty net, much to the dismay of the blue-shirted fans behind the goal. Veiga celebrated with a gesture reminiscent of Jude Bellingham, putting his fingers to his lips to silence the crowd.
The goal appeared to ignite Al-Hilal’s spirit. After 20 minutes, Renan Lodi delivered a delightful cross into the area. Mitrovic managed to reach it before Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, who filled in for the injured Edouard Mendy, but Merih Demiral quickly cleared the danger off the line. Moments later, Mitrovic fired a shot just wide from the edge of the area, signaling that Al-Hilal was hungry for an equalizer.
It looked like it would be the third time the Serbian sharpshooter had been lucky just two minutes before halftime. Joao Cancelo delivered a perfectly floated cross from the right, and Aleksandar Mitrovic headed it firmly into the net. However, what would have been his eighth goal of the season was disallowed for offside.
After the break, Al-Ahli pushed for the equalizer and didn’t have to wait long. Once again, it was Mitrovic, converting another excellent cross from Lodi. The Brazilian found the former Fulham striker at the edge of the six-yard box, with only one outcome. This marked the 69th consecutive game in which Al-Hilal had scored—a phenomenal record.
A near miss came just before the hour mark when Al-Sanbi made a brilliant dive to push away a Ruben Neves free-kick heading for the back of the net. Moments later, Al-Hilal faced more frustration as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s shot from inside the area was blocked on the line. Al-Sanbi then brilliantly denied Salem Al-Dawsari’s follow-up attempt.
As Al-Hilal continued to apply pressure, they were awarded an ample opportunity with 18 minutes remaining when Rayan Hamed fouled Malcom in the area. Mitrovic stepped up to take the penalty, but Al-Sanbi guessed correctly and executed another excellent diving save. Unfortunately for the home fans—and those hoping to see Al-Hilal drop points—the goalkeeper had come off his line during the save, leading to a retake. Mitrovic made no mistake the second time around.
Al-Ahli pushed hard for an equalizer but could not find the back of the net, with Riyad Mahrez coming close with a shot that went just wide in the 95th minute. They have now lost three of their first six games. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal moved three points clear of second-placed Al-Ittihad, while Al-Nassr sits third after a comfortable 3-0 win over Al-Orobah.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored after 17 minutes, converting a penalty following a handball in the area, marking his fifth league goal of the season. The Portuguese superstar turned provider 12 minutes later with a clever pass from the left to Sadio Mane, who took one touch before firing a low shot into the far corner.
Mane sealed the win with his second goal 19 minutes from time, connecting with a side-footed volley initially ruled offside before a VAR review overturned the decision.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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