Neom delivered a stunning upset on Monday evening, defeating league leaders Al-Hilal 2-0 in the sixth round of the Roshn League. The result marked Al-Hilal's first league defeat of the season, shattering their five-game winning streak and reshaping the title race across Saudi Arabia's top division.
Al-Hilal arrived as heavy favorites under manager Simone Inzaghi, but chaos struck before kickoff. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou suffered an injury during warm-up, forcing Mohammed Al-Owais into an unfamiliar position between the posts. The Blues' disrupted preparation proved costly as Neom's compact, disciplined defense immediately took control of the match.
Early Setbacks Derail Al-Hilal's Bid
Neom struck in the 15th minute when Kalidou Koulibaly turned the ball into his own net, handing the hosts an unexpected lead. Al-Hilal's attacking stars—including Sultan Al-Ghannam and Krisencio Summerville—struggled to break through Neom's organized defensive shape. Most efforts came from distance, creating minimal danger for Neom goalkeeper Marcin Bulka.
The second blow arrived just before halftime. Al-Owais rushed from goal on a loose ball in the penalty area, and Amadou Kone capitalized on the defensive confusion to make it 2-0 in the 44th minute. Neom's two-goal cushion appeared commanding heading into the interval.
Second-Half Push Falls Short
Inzaghi overhauled his attacking lineup in the second half, introducing Nasser Al-Dawsari, Sultan Mandash, and Mohamed Kader Mete to spark a revival. Gabriel Martinelli had a golden opportunity in the 50th minute when clean through on goal, but his one-on-one attempt went wide. Ruben Neves curled a strike inches past the left post three minutes later.
Bulka proved instrumental in Neom's defense, producing a crucial header save from Ollie Watkins at the 65-minute mark and repeatedly denying Al-Hilal's frustrated attackers. Despite sustained pressure from the visitors, Neom's organized defensive block held firm, and the hosts controlled the closing stages to secure an unlikely but deserved victory.
The result leaves Al-Hilal on 15 points after their first Roshn League loss, while Neom jumped to 12 points with their fourth win of the campaign. Al-Nassr and other rivals now have a realistic opportunity to close the gap on the defending champions, making this upset a genuine turning point in this season's title race.
