Al Hilal’s hopes of clinching the Saudi Professional League title suffered a severe blow on Friday, May 10, 2024, following a dramatic 2-1 defeat at the hands of Al Hazem. The loss, which came in the 31st round of the competition, leaves The Blues 12 points behind leaders Al Nassr with only three matches remaining, effectively ending their championship challenge.
The match began disastrously for the hosts. In just the 4th minute, Al Hazem’s Faïz Selemani capitalized on a catastrophic defensive error, rounding goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to slot the ball into an empty net. The early goal sent shockwaves through the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.
Al Hilal pushed for an equalizer and thought they had found it in the 28th minute. Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrović rose to head home a cross, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review confirmed an offside in the buildup. The home side’s frustration grew as the first half ended with Al Hazem maintaining their slender lead.
The second half saw Al Hilal increase the pressure, and their persistence finally paid off in the 55th minute. Mitrović made no mistake this time, powerfully heading in a cross from Yasser Al-Shahrani to level the score at 1-1 and ignite hopes of a comeback.
However, those hopes were shattered in the 64th minute. Against the run of play, Al Hazem’s Tozé delivered a perfect cross onto the head of Brazilian forward Vina, who guided the ball past Bounou to restore the visitors’ lead. Despite relentless late pressure and a flurry of chances, including a golden opportunity for Mitrović in the final moments, Al Hilal could not find a second equalizer.
The defeat marks a stunning collapse for Al Hilal, who just weeks ago were firmly in the title race. The result is being widely attributed to the sudden and controversial departure of their Italian coach, Roberto Mancini. Mancini resigned from his post on August 27, 2023, after only 12 matches in charge, a move labeled by many supporters and pundits as a “betrayal” that destabilized the club’s season.
With the title now mathematically out of reach, Al Hilal must regroup and focus on securing their position in the league and preparing for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where several of their stars will feature for the Saudi national team.
