RIYADH: Al-Hilal recovered from an early concession to beat Al-Okhdood 3-1 at Kingdom Arena on Matchday 4 of the Saudi Pro League season.

The win on Thursday night leaves Al-Hilal in fourth place with eight points from four matches.

Al-Okhdood shocked the home crowd by taking the lead on 13 minutes when Khaled Narey scored with a stunning volley past Yassine Bounou from a tight angle. The lead could have been doubled on 25 minutes, but Blaz Kramer wasted a presentable chance.

Marcos Leonardo squared the match with a header after Al-Okhdood goalkeeper Samuel Portugal fumbled the ball into his path and it looked like that the teams would go in at the break on level terms. However, three minutes into stoppage time, Theo Hernandez gave Al-Hilal the lead after a wonderful run and finish to send the home crowd into wild celebration.

Nevertheless, Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi would have been far from happy with his team’s overall first-half performance.

The message must have got to the players as Al-Hilal went on the attack after the restart, though a Kalidou Koulibaly effort on 57 minutes was overturned by VAR.

Al-Hilal’s third eventually arrived on 79 minutes, Leonardo grabbing his second of the night from close range after Portugal once again failed to hold onto the ball.

Earlier on Thursday visitors Al-Taawoun beat Al-Khaleej 1-0 to claim third place in the SPL table, while Al-Kholood pulled off the surprise of the day, beating hosts Al-Shabab with a 90th-minute winner from Abdulaziz El-Elawi.