Al-Hilal delivered a historic performance against arch-rivals Al-Ittihad, securing a thrilling 3-2 victory at the Kingdom Arena in Round 8 of the Saudi Roshn League. The Riyadh giants' international stars combined to create a milestone moment, with three foreign players finding the back of the net in a single Clasico fixture—a feat not seen in over a decade.
Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli broke the deadlock early, striking in the 11th minute to set the tone for an attacking display. English striker Ollie Watkins doubled Al-Hilal's advantage just before the half-hour mark, capitalizing on the hosts' momentum. Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville then sealed the three-pointer with a 64th-minute finish to complete a dominant attacking showcase.
A Historic Milestone for Al-Hilal's Global Squad
According to Opta statistics, this marked the first time three different foreign players scored for Al-Hilal in a Clasico since September 2013—a gap of approximately 13 years. That memorable evening saw Al-Hilal thrash Al-Ittihad 5-2 during the 2013-2014 Saudi League season, when France's Adil Hermach, South Korea's Cho Sung-hwan, and Brazilian Thiago Neves (who claimed two goals) orchestrated the rout. The return to such dominant foreign contributions underscores the quality of Al-Hilal's recent recruitment in the Saudi Arabia top flight.
Saturday's victory propelled Al-Hilal to the summit of the Saudi Roshn League standings with 21 points, extending their lead over second-placed Al-Qadsiah and third-placed Al-Nassr by two points each. Al-Ittihad remain fourth with 17 points, leaving them with considerable ground to make up in their pursuit of the title. The result reflects Al-Hilal's ability to convert chances decisively when their international stars click in tandem—a characteristic that could prove decisive as the season reaches its critical phase.
