Al-Faisal came from behind to defeat Al-Hilal 4:2 in the opening match of the Pro League Regular Season at Kingdom Arena on Thursday evening. The result marks a difficult start for the table-toppers, who had gone two goals ahead before losing their composure.
Mohammed Mahzari won a penalty for Al-Hilal in the fifteenth minute after a VAR review, and Karim Benzema converted it to give the hosts the lead. Malcom doubled the advantage six minutes later, and the visitors appeared to be under pressure. Then came the shift. R. Neves scored from the spot just two minutes after the equaliser chance, and the game turned.
Al-Faisal took the lead through Alexander Mendy in the fifty-ninth minute before Theo Bongonda extended the advantage in the sixty-fourth. R. Neves completed his brace from the penalty spot in the eighty-second minute, and the visitors held on for a dramatic victory. Abdullah Almogren received a yellow card for Al-Faisal in the sixty-second minute.
Al-Hilal made four substitutions around the seventy-first minute, bringing on A. Al Shereaf, T. Bongonda, M. Kanno, and K. Benzema. Al-Faisal responded with changes of C. Bassogog and J. Seoane in the seventy-sixth minute.
The statistics tell a story of wasted opportunity. Al-Hilal created nine big chances and registered an expected goals total of 4.46, yet managed only two goals. Their shots accuracy sat at 31 per cent, with nine shots flying wide. Al-Faisal, by contrast, showed 63 per cent accuracy and converted their chances more efficiently.
The result leaves Al-Hilal at the top of the table with six points from one game, but the mood around the stadium was far from celebratory. Al-Faisal move to seventeenth place with two points, having opened their campaign with a win after three defeats in their previous five matches.