Al-Hilal 1-1 Al-Riyadh: Hosts miss out on top spot after stalemate
Al-Hilal could have gone top of the Saudi Pro League with a win on Friday but were held to a frustrating stalemate by Al-Riyadh instead.
Al-Hilal missed the chance to go top of the Saudi Pro League after coming from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw against Al-Riyadh.
The sides played out a dramatic encounter at Kingdom Arena on Friday, but neither team were able to find a late winner.
Despite a bright start by Al-Hilal, it was the visitors who looked to have struck first. Mohamed Konate peeled off the back of his defender to thump in Sekou Lega's whipped cross, but a VAR check showed he had just set off too early.
The hosts dominated the ball but created few clear-cut chances with it. Marcos Leonardo went closest, only to drag his effort wide of the far post from a tight angle on the left.
Konate haunted Al-Hilal again just before the break, racing in behind to slot past Yassine Bounou one-on-one. This time, the offside flag went up, though the goal was given following a VAR review.
Just before the hour-mark, Al-Hilal benefitted from another tight offside call after Lega drilled a low shot under Bounou into the bottom-right corner, but VAR once again showed he had strayed beyond the hosts' defence.
Moments later, Salem Al Dawsari equalised. None of the Al-Riyadh players spotted his run down the left, and he kept his composure to bend a lovely shot around Milan Borjan and into the far post.
However, there was still time for more drama. Abdulelah Al Khaibari was penalised for a handball in the box, which incensed the visitors, and following a lengthy check, including a look at the monitor by the referee, the decision was overturned as the captain had not touched the ball.
Data Debrief: So close yet so far
With Al-Ittihad not playing until Saturday, this was Al-Hilal's chance to add some pressure on the league leaders.
They rode their luck at times - the two disallowed Al-Riyadh goals were ruled out by a matter of inches - but overall, they will feel they deserved the win.
They had 18 shots in the game to Al-Riyadh's six, generating 1.88 expected goals (xG), and having 36 touches in the opposition box. By contrast, Sabri Lamouchi's side touched the ball just eight times in Al-Hilal's area.
