Brazilian Romarinho scored a goal and made another so that Al-Ittihad, seeking to win its first title in the Saudi Professional Football League since the 2008-2009 season, maintained the lead by defeating its guest Dhamak 3-0, while Al-Nasr continued its pursuit by defeating its host Al-Adalah 5-0, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Anderson Talisca scored. Two goals each.
Al-Hilal, the defending champion, advanced to third place, boosting its hopes of competing strongly after it won 2-0 over Al-Fayhaa, thanks to Odion Ighalo’s brace.
In the first match, Brazilian Bruno Henrique put Al-Ittihad in the lead in the 14th minute with a shot from the edge of the penalty area, after his compatriot Romarinho prepared the ball for him with the heel in a wonderful way.
Romarinho added the second goal from a penalty kick in the 37th minute.
Egyptian Ahmed Hegazy scored the third goal in the 88th minute.
In the second match, Ronaldo put Al-Nassr ahead of Al-Adalah with a penalty kick in the 40th minute.
Brazilian Talisca doubled the score for victory in the 55th minute, with a powerful creeping ground strike with his left from outside the area.
Ronaldo scored the second and third personal goal for his team in the 66th minute, with a wonderful shot from inside the area.
Talisca made it 4-0 in the 78th minute, after putting the ball nicely over the goalkeeper.
Ayman Yahya Salem completed the fifth in stoppage time. Nigerian Ighalo scored a double, as Al-Hilal won 2-0 over Al-Fayhaa in a postponed match.
Ighalo raised his tally to 16 goals in the league this season, to become equal with Talisca at the top of the scorers list, one goal ahead of Moroccan Abdel Razzak Hamdallah, Al Ittihad player.
Al-Hilal will play a summit match at its neighbor Al-Shabab stadium in the 22nd round, next Friday.
Al-Ittihad leads the competition with 53 points from 22 matches, one point ahead of Al-Nassr Al-Thani, while Al-Hilal advanced to third place with 45 points from 21 matches.
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news