5/17/2023–|Last update: 5/17/202312:20 AM (Mecca time)
Michel scored a goal near the end, to tie Al-Hilal 2-2 with its guest Al-Ittihad on Tuesday, and ignite the race for the Saudi Professional Football League title.
The leaders, Al-Ittihad, reached 63 points, ahead of Al-Nasr, who beat Al-Taie by 3 points, 3 rounds before the end.
Al-Hilal – who played the meeting under the technical management of Emiliano Diaz, son of coach Ramon Diaz, who left the team for “family circumstances” – raised his score to 50 points from 26 matches, in fourth place.
Igor Coronado, Al-Ittihad player, gave his team the lead after 8 minutes, after he exchanged the ball with Abdul-Razzaq Hamdallah and hit the narrow corner of Al-Hilal goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf.
And 10 minutes later, Hamdallah almost made it 2-0 with a shot close to the goal line, but Al-Mayouf brilliantly pushed it away.
Ahmed Bamasoud added the second goal, after a pass from Hamdallah, to shoot from close range after half an hour of play.
Musab Al-Juwair narrowed the difference to Al-Hilal from a cross pass that deceived Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe in the 41st minute, and the validity of the goal and the ball crossing the goal line was confirmed after a long review by the video assistant referee.
An exciting Clasico.. and 4 goals 🔥
⚽️ Al-Ittihad advances and Al-Hilal returns.. Watch the match goals ⤵️#Al-Hilal _ Al-Ittihad | #SSC pic.twitter.com/uXX5zC2WiV
– Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) May 16, 2023
Luciano Vietto hit a direct free kick that almost scored the equalizer for Al Hilal, but it hit the left post in the fourth minute of stoppage time for the first half.
Al-Hilal’s most dangerous chances came in the second half, after substitute Michel hit from close range, Grohe saved the ball before Al-Ittihad defender Ahmed Sharahili pushed it away, and before it reached the head of striker Odion Ighalo in the 72nd minute.
Romarinho hit the Al-Ittihad player from close range, but the ball passed by the right post 10 minutes before the end.
Moments before the end, Michel hit a ball from close range, which Grohi blocked, and returned to the Al-Hilal striker, who fired hard to cross the goal line, and the video assistant referee confirms the validity of the goal.
Target!⚽
D52′ The first goal for Al-Nassr by Cristiano Ronaldo
Al-Ta’i 0 x 1 Victory#Al-Tai _ Al-Nasr | #SSC pic.twitter.com/6y8PQzZ7Ud– Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) May 16, 2023
Victory wins thanks to Ronaldo and Talisca
In a match at the same time, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty kick to lead Al-Nassr to a 2-0 victory over its host Al-Tai.
Al-Nasr – who tied with its guest Al-Khaleej in the last match – continued to chase Al-Ittihad after raising its score to 60 points.
Ronaldo almost put the victory ahead with a header, but it reached Al Taie goalkeeper Victor Braga after 23 minutes of play.
And 6 minutes later, Ronaldo fired a missile from the edge of the penalty area, but goalkeeper Braga turned it into a corner.
Abdul Majeed Al-Salihim, Al-Nasr midfielder, got a penalty kick after a decision by the video assistant referee, which Ronaldo successfully converted to the right of Braga in the 52nd minute.
Target!⚽
D80′ The second goal for Al-Nassr via Talisca
Al-Ta’i 0 x 2 Victory#Al-Tai _ Al-Nasr | #SSC pic.twitter.com/hRSWOVGyw6– Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) May 16, 2023
The Brazilian Talisca secured the match points for Al-Nassr, after he took advantage of Hussein Qassem’s mistake, Al-Ta’i defender, to shoot from a solitary position and add the second goal 10 minutes before the end.
Al-Taie’s balance stopped at 34 points from 27 matches.