RIYADH: Al-Hilal moved seven points clear at the top of the Roshn Saudi League on Friday with a 2-0 win against Al-Taawoun in Riyadh.
But while goalscorers Aleksandar Mitrovic and Mohamed Kanno will get the plaudits, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou played a starring role with a number of crucial saves.
It was a hard-fought and welcome victory against Al-Taawoun who arrived in the capital in fourth place and with a chance to go level on points with second-placed Al-Nassr, but in the end Al-Hilal picked up an 11th successive win in all competitions.
The 18-time champions quickly got on top and the first chance fell to the hosts. Kanno played a one-two with Salem Al-Dawsari, bursting into the right side of the area to collect the pass and see his shot saved by Mailson.
Al-Hilal came even closer after 18 minutes. Michael’s perfect pass split the defense and Al-Dawsari rounded Mailson on the right but his shot from a tight angle came back off the post.
The visitors’ first chance came after 30 minutes but Mateus’ header was just off target.
Seven minutes before the break Mitrovic showed the Brazilian how it was done, heading home a Kalidou Koulibaly cross from the right, though perhaps Mailson, who got a hand on the ball, should have been able to keep it out.
After a review, however, the Serbian striker was denied goal number 17 since joining his new club as he was adjudged to have fouled Brazilian defender Andrei Girotto when jumping for the ball. It meant that it was goalless at the break.
Al-Taawoun were first out of the blocks in the second half and almost took an immediate lead as a swirling shot from Mateus at the edge of the area had Bounou scrambling to push the ball over.
The Moroccan goalkeeper then made an even better save, getting down quickly after Kanno had inadvertently headed a free-kick toward his own goal.
Al-Hilal were stung into life and Mitrovic headed straight at Mailson from close range, although The Blues thought they may have had a penalty after claiming that Waleed Al-Ahmed had handled when challenging the Serbian striker.
The referee went to check the pitchside monitor but he stuck with his original decision and the scoreline remained goalless.
With 18 minutes remaining it was the turn of the home fans to be worried as a left-sided cross from deep entered the Al-Hilal penalty area. Defender Hassan Tambakti stretched in an attempt to clear but succeeded only in diverting the ball goalwards, but there was Bounou once more to react quickly with a fine save.
Al-Hilal finally got their breakthrough with eight minutes remaining. Malcom swung over a perfect free-kick from the left and Mitrovic got in front of the defense to send a diving header into the back of the net.
Deep into added time Kanno stepped up to fire an unstoppable 30-yard free-kick into the top corner to confirm the win.
Al-Hilal go seven points clear with the win but Al-Nassr, in second, have the chance to close the gap to four on Saturday as they travel to Al-Wehda.
