Al Hilal Triumphs Over Al Ahli with Mitrović’s Double

Al Hilal secured a 2-1 victory over Al Ahli at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Saturday, strengthening their hold atop the Saudi Pro League standings. This victory highlighted the performance of Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrović, who contributed both the equalizer and the decisive goal, elevating his team’s total to 18 points. Meanwhile, Al Ahli remains in 10th place with seven points.

Al Ahli initially took the lead within the opening 12 minutes. Gabriel Viega scored with composure after successfully dribbling past Al Hilal’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou. Al Ahli’s defense displayed resilience soon after, as Merih Demiral made a crucial block, clearing Sergej Milinković-Savić’s close-range attempt off the line.

Throughout the first half, Mitrović, a formidable force in the league, generated several chances. However, his initial attempt narrowly missed the target, and subsequent plays were thwarted by Al Ahli’s adept defending. Salem Al-Dawsari also came close, but Al Ahli’s goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi managed a skillful save, deflecting the shot onto the post.

Although Mitrović found the net just before halftime, the goal was disallowed for offside. Despite this setback, Al Hilal persevered, and Mitrović’s persistence paid off in the 56th minute when he capitalized on Renan Lodi’s cross to even the score.

The contentious moment of the match occurred in the 74th minute when Mitrović was awarded a penalty. Al-Sanbi initially saved the attempt, but VAR intervened, identifying encroachment and necessitating a retake. Mitrović did not miss this second opportunity, scoring his 14th goal of the season across all competitions.

Al Ahli sought redemption towards the end, with Roberto Firmino nearly equalizing with a powerful strike. In the final moments, Merih Demiral continued his defensive heroics, again clearing a Joao Cancelo effort, while Riyad Mahrez‘s attempt grazed past the post.

This victory solidifies Al Hilal’s ambition to maintain their league leadership, as they continue their pursuit of the title.