Al-Hilal/Al-Ettifaq beat Al-Ettifaq, in a match valid for the twenty-first round of the Saudi Championship, by 2-0. The goals of the game were scored by Sergej Milinković-Savić and Salem Al-Dawsari in the first half. With this result, Jorge Jesus’ team is three games away from equaling the team’s world record for victories […]
26 fev
2024
– 13h39
(updated at 2:12 pm)
Sergej Milinković-Savić celebrating Al-Hilal’s first goal.
Photo: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images / Esporte News Mundo
Al-Hilal/Al-Ettifaq beat Al-Ettifaq, in a match valid for the twenty-first round of the Saudi Championship, by 2-0. The goals of the game were scored by Sergej Milinković-Savić and Salem Al-Dawsari in the first half. With this result, Jorge Jesus’ team is three games away from equaling the world record for victories held by the Welsh team The New Saints, which won 27 consecutive victories in 2016.
The match was truncated at the beginning of the first half with both teams committing many fouls and creating few scoring chances, however Italian referee Fabio Maresca chose not to give many yellow cards. Al-Hilal created more scoring chances, which opened the scoring in the 38th, with Sergej Milinković-Savić heading in. Nine minutes later, Jorge Jesus’ team expanded with Salem Al-Dawsari after a quick move, the Saudi attacking midfielder came across the goal and hit it between Paulo Victor’s legs. Steven Gerrard’s men created some chances, but didn’t take advantage. In the second half, Al-Hilal had more possession of the ball and didn’t let their opponents create many clear scoring chances.
Game
The game started with Al-Ettifaq under pressure, in the first move, less than a minute into the game, Georginio Wijnaldum, ex-Liverpool, took a long shot and Bono saved it quickly. The match was truncated and with the teams unable to create many chances in the first minute until the 15th minute, Al-Hilal had their first chance in the game, after Kalidou Koulibaly, formerly of Napoli and Chelsea, finished after a cross in the area. and Paulo Vitor, ex-Flamengo and Grêmio, made a good defense. Top scorer Mitrovic finished on the rebound, the Brazilian goalkeeper made a great save, but the flag went up and the shot didn’t count. Three minutes later, Renan Lodi was called into midfield, charged and hit, but the ball went wide of the goal.
At 23, Rubén Neves took a long shot, but the ball went to the right of the goal. Al-Ettifaq responded a minute later, Karl-Toko-Ekambi received a wrong pass from Salman Al-Faraj, he led a little and sent Moussa Dembélé forward, but at the time of the finish Koulibaly arrived to stop the finish. After that, no great chance of scoring
Thirteen minutes later, Al-Hilal opened the scoring after a corner taken by Rubén Neves, Sergej Milinković-Savić came from behind and freed himself from the marking and tested firmly to open the scoring for Jorge Jesus’ men. 1 to 0 Al-Hilal. At 41, Toko-Ekambi received the first yellow of the game for complaining
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Al-Hilal expanded. Renan Lodi intercepted a pass and triggered Mitrovic, who quickly passed it to Salem Al-Dawsari, the attacking midfielder received it, led it and hit it under the legs of Paulo Victor, who could do nothing. 2 to 0 Al-Hilal. Three minutes later, Al-Ettifaq tried to respond, on that occasion Medrán took a corner, Toko-Ekambi deflected it at the first post and then Dembelé missed it.
The second half of the game started truncated, with both teams committing many fouls. At seven, Rúben Neves received a yellow card for a harsh foul on Sekou Fofana. Three minutes later, Kalidou Koulibaly received a yellow card after fouling Demarai Grey. It was only at 17, that the first great chance of goals in the final stage was created after Milinkovic-Savic first caught the ball rolled by Malcom, he took a risk from distance and hit Paulo Victor’s right post. Following the move, Ekambi took a long shot, but his shot was blocked.
At 23, Al-Hilal made its first substitution. Michael took Salman Al-Faraj’s place. Four minutes later, it was Al-Ettifaq’s turn to make their first moves. With the entry of Khateeb and Al-Oboud, replacing Al-Shammrani and Moussa Dembelé. Two minutes later, Milinkovic-Savic finished from outside the area for Paulo Victor to save. Ettifaq responded with Demarai who had his shot blocked. At 34, Steven Gerrard’s team made its third change, with Al-Otaibe replacing Mohamed Abdulrahman.
Two minutes later, at 36, Ekambi tried to finish from the edge of the area, but didn’t catch the ball well and played far from the goal. Jorge Jesus made two more substitutions at 40. With the addition of Kanno and Al-Shahrani, replacing Malcom and Renan Lodi. At 45, in a well-armed counterattack, Al-Dawsari left Michael in front of the goal, however, Paulo Victor came out well and avoided the visitors’ third goal.
Between minutes 46 and 48, Al-Hilal made changes twice. With the entry of Nasser Al-Dawsari and Al-Hamdan, replacing Rúben Neves and Salem Al-Dawsari. In the last minute of the game, Al-Otaibe appeared as a surprise element in the area, but caught the ball poorly and did not hit the target.
With the result, Al-Hilal remains in first place in the Saudi Pro League, with 59 points achieved in 21 games. Al-Ettifaq is in eighth place with 29. In their next game, Jorge Jesus’ men will face Al-Ittihad, at home, at the Kingdom Arena Stadium, next Friday (1), at 2pm (time from Brasilia). Steven Gerrard and his team will play against Dhamk, away from home, at the Dhamak Club Stadium, on Saturday (2), at 11am (Brasília time).
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