Glory for Al-Hilal as win over Al-Faisaly secures third Saudi Professional League title in row
RIYADH: Al-Hilal defeated Al-Faisaly 2-1 in Riyadh on Monday evening to be topped champions of Saudi Arabia for a record-extending 18th time. They completed two factors away from rivals Al-Ittihad, who had been held to a goalless draw by Al-Batin. In the meantime, the defeat doomed Al-Faisaly to relegation.
Two objectives from the league’s main scorer, Odion Ighalo, gave coach Ramon Diaz’s staff an eleventh win of their final 12 video games as they secured the highest spot for a 3rd successive season in a marketing campaign that was the longest in league historical past, after kicking off in August final yr.
It’s a improbable achievement for the Asian champions, who trailed Al-Ittihad by 16 factors in February when coach Ramon Diaz took over.
Ighalo’s twenty second aim of the season, after simply seven minutes, eased any early Al-Hilal nerves on the King Fahd Worldwide Stadium. The previous Manchester United striker turned and fired dwelling from shut vary after a wise pull-back from Brazil’s Michael.
The second strike, 4 minutes after the hour, got here from the same transfer: This time Michael beat two defenders on the proper and squared the ball to Ighalo, who swept dwelling.
The sport, and the title race, gave the impression to be throughout however then, with 20 minutes remaining, the guests silenced the already celebrating dwelling crowd when substitute Clayson arrived late to satisfy an ideal Khalid Al-Kabi cross from the proper and ship a robust header previous Abdullah Al-Mayouf.
Out of the blue there have been indicators of pressure among the many dwelling followers as Al-Faisaly, who wanted a outcome to ensure top-tier soccer subsequent season, pushed ahead looking for an equalizer and a probably decisive level.
The closest the lads from Dammam got here was deep into damage time, when a shot from Julio Tavares was cleared off the road — with the guests claiming a hand had been used. This has been a season with loads of last-minute drama and hearts had been in mouths as Greek referee Anastasios Sidiropoulos studied the pitchside monitor. He waved away the determined Al-Faisaly appeals and, after at least 10 minutes of added time, it was throughout.
It was a frantic finish to a frantic season and the celebrations mirrored the champion’s reduction and delight at certainly one of their extra unlikely title triumphs.
The victory meant that that there was nothing Al-Ittihad may do in Jeddah, as a result of Al-Hilal had the higher head-to-head report. However, the previous’s goalless draw with Al-Batin was a disappointing finish to a marketing campaign that promised a lot.
The Tigers dropped 13 factors of their closing eight video games, a run that value them what would have been their first title since 2009. They huffed and puffed towards Al-Batin, who narrowly averted relegation, however had been unable to interrupt the impasse.
It was a horrible evening all spherical for Jeddah golf equipment as 2016 champions Al-Ahli had been relegated to the second tier for the primary time in membership historical past. A goalless draw towards fourth-place Al-Shabab condemned the 2012 Asian Champions League finalists to the drop.
It was a tense 90 minutes on the backside half of the desk on Monday, with seven groups dealing with the potential of the drop going into the ultimate sport. However when the mud had settled, it was Al-Faisaly, Al-Ahli and Al-Hazm who had been relegated.
Al-Taawoun ensured their survival with a 1-1 draw at Damac, who completed in fifth place, whereas Al-Tai assured their security with a 3-0 win over Al-Hazm, their third victory in 4 video games. Al-Raed defeated Abha 1-0, a outcome that ensured the highest flight survival of each groups, whereas Ettifaq scrambled to security due to a 1-0 win at Al-Feiha.
Al-Nassr ended their season in third place after a 2-1 win over Al-Fateh but it surely was elsewhere in Riyadh the place the actual celebrations, and the strains of “We Are The Champions,” could possibly be heard.
