Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia saw off Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia 3-0 in the Pro-League on Monday evening, extending their perfect start to the campaign with a commanding performance at home. The Saudi side moved to the top of the table with nine points from three matches, while Al-Ahli dropped to seventh place with six points from their opening three fixtures. The result followed Al-Hilal's recent scoring form, having netted 17 goals across their last five league outings.
S. Milinkovic-Savic opened the scoring in the ninth minute, giving the hosts an early advantage that set the tone for the evening. The Serbian midfielder found space in the box and finished clinically to put Al-Hilal ahead within the first quarter-hour. By then, the visitors were already under pressure as the hosts controlled the tempo of the match.
And here's the thing — the match shifted dramatically after M. Demiral received a red card in the 45th minute following two yellow cards. The dismissal came just before half-time and left Al-Ahli with ten men for the entire second period. The Serbian defender had already been booked in the 45th minute before being sent off shortly after, removing a key defensive option from the visitors' lineup.
C. Summerville doubled the lead in the 23rd minute before the dismissal, capitalising on Al-Hilal's early dominance to extend their advantage. The English forward made a sharp run and finished with composure to make it 2-0 before the break. To be fair, Al-Ahli had created chances but struggled to convert them against a well-organised home defence.
O. Watkins added a third goal in the 86th minute to seal the victory and complete the scoring. The American striker made no mistake when given the opportunity to extend Al-Hilal's lead late in the game. The substitution of C. Summerville in the 89th minute brought an end to his evening after a productive performance.
Al-Hilal registered 56 per cent possession and created 1.99 expected goals, though they only converted their chances three times. The hosts recorded six shots on target from 11 attempts, while Al-Ahli managed just two shots on target from ten attempts. The visitors' expected goals figure of 1.27 did not reflect the reality of their limited opportunities after the red card.
The result moves Al-Hilal to second place with a perfect record, though they sit behind the league leaders on goal difference. Al-Ahli remain in seventh place with one defeat from three matches and face an uphill battle to recover their form. The hosts had previously beaten Al-Hu lood 5-1 and Al-Fayha 3-0 in their opening fixtures.
