DUBAI: Al-Hilal defeated Neon 2-1 on Sunday night to restore their seven-point lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League table after nearest rivals A-Nassr reduced the gap with a win over Al-Shabab the previous day.
Al-Hilal now have 41 points from 15 matches, with Al-Nassr second on 34 from the same number.
Neom took the lead on 42 minutes through Mohammed Al-Burayk, holding onto the lead until half-time. But Simone Inzaghi’s men upped their game in the second half to level the score on 49 minutes through Hassan Al-Tambakti, who powered a header home from a Reuben Neves corner.
A similar set-piece led to Al-Hilal’s second 15 minutes later. As another Neves corner was played into the Neom penalty area, Al-Tambakti was wrestled down to the ground and the referee had little hesitation in pointing to the spot. Neves himself converted the penalty to secure the three points.
Earlier on Sunday, Al-Qadsiah thrashed hosts Al-Hazem 5-1, with all six goals coming in the second half. Mateo Retegui opened the scoring for the visitors on 56 minutes and Al-Qadsiah quickly doubled their lead five minutes later thanks to Musab Al-Juwayr.
Brendan Rodgers’ team was coasting, and despite a host of substitutions by Al-Hazem halfway through the second half, the result was put beyond doubt when Julian Quinones scored on 73 minutes before Ahmed Al-Nakhli’s own goal made it 4-0. With four minutes left, Aboubacar Bah scored a consolation for Al-Hazem, but there was still time for Al-Qadsiah to make it 5-1 through another own goal, this time by Mohammed Isaa in stoppage time.
The result leaves Al-Qadsiah fifth in the table, while Al-Hazem sit in 11th.
Meanwhile, 10-man Al-Taawoun claimed all three points at after a 3-1 win at Al-Riyadh to climb back to third, having briefly lost the position to reigning AFC Champions League winners Al-Ahli.
