December 02, (THEWILL) – Al-Hilal took a huge step towards retaining their Roshn Saudi Premier League title with an authoritative 3-0 victory over rivals, Al-Nassr in the season’s second Riyadh derby on Friday night.
After a tight and tense affair for over an hour at the King Fahd International Stadium, the league leaders eventually pulled clear through second half goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and a late brace by Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The result, in front of 67,372 fans, sends Al-Hilal seven points clear of the chasing pack after 15 matches played. With the opening 45 minutes even, Milinkovic-Savic broke the deadlock just after the hour mark with a stooping header. Mitrovic then secured victory late on to round off a perfect night for the defending champions.
Al-Hilal started the match as the brighter of the pair and Mitrovic was denied an early opener before Salem Al-Dawsari twice went close. Al-Nassr’s Anderson Talisca almost broke the tie open against the run of play with an audacious looping effort that clipped the crossbar.
A niggly period ensued with fouls interrupting the flow of the game, whilst controversy arose before half time as Al-Nassr appeals for a penalty were waved away following an apparent foul on Seko Fofana. The complexity of the tie changed in the second half when goals from Milinkovic-Savic and Mitrovic sealed victory against an Al-Nassr defence left exposed whilst chasing the game and Cristiano Ronaldo not able to help his side.
The result leaves Al-Hilal leading rivals Al-Nassr with seven points back. Al-Hilal will take some stopping based on this disciplined and ruthless derby day display.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
