Live Blog

Saudi Pro League live: Mitrovic scores on Al Hilal debut, Benzema notches for Al Ittihad

Al Ahli secure last-gasp winner thanks to a Franck Kessie header

Highlights
Live Updates
Aug 25, 2023, 12:41 AM

And there we have it. After a slow start to the night, we were treated to 11 goals from the four games in the end. Al Ittihad and Al Ahli maintained their 100 per cent records at top of the Saudi Pro League table after three wins from three. 


Karim Benzema scored one and made one as champions Al Ittihad thumped Al Riyadh 4-0, while Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino combined to set-up Franck Kessie for Al Ahli's injury-time winner to finally break through a spirited Al Okhdood defensive display.


Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq could not secure their third win on the spin as they were held 1-1 at home by Al Khaleej.


Al Hilal, meanwhile, also bagged four with Aleksandar Mitrovic among the goals on his debut in their demolition of Al Raed. Hilal now sit in third place just ahead of Ettifaq in the table.


Good night.


Aug 25, 2023, 12:31 AM

Goal of the night

Aug 25, 2023, 12:30 AM

Kessie's late show

Aug 25, 2023, 12:29 AM

Benzema makes his mark

Aug 25, 2023, 12:28 AM

Ettifaq all square

Aug 25, 2023, 12:26 AM

Late show for Al Ahli

Aug 25, 2023, 12:25 AM

Tigers too strong

Aug 25, 2023, 12:24 AM

Neves and Mitrovic combines for Al Hilal

Aug 25, 2023, 12:22 AM

FULL-TIME STATS

Possession: Al Riiyadh 41%  Al Ittihad 59 %


Shots: Al Riiyadh 9 Al Ittihad 17


Shots on target: Al Riiyadh 4  Al Ittihad 8


Passes:  Al Riiyadh 440  Al Ittihad 631


Corners: Al Riiyadh 4 Al Ittihad 3


Yellow cards: Al Riiyadh 3 Al Ittihad 1


Aug 25, 2023, 12:20 AM

FULL-TIME STATS

Possession: Al Raed 39 %  Al Hilal 61 %


Shots: Al Raed 7  Al Hilal 20


Shots on target: Al Raed 2  Al Hilal 10


Passes:  Al Raed 335  Al Hilal 497


Corners: Al Raed 4 Al Hilal 6


Yellow cards: Al Raed 3  Al Hilal 0


Red cards: Al Raed 1  Al Hilal 1


Aug 25, 2023, 12:18 AM

FULL-TIME STATS

Possession: Al Ettifaq 59 %  Al Khaleej 41 %


Shots: Al Ettifaq 16  Al Khaleej 2


Shots on target: Al Ettifaq 7  Al Khaleej 1


Passes:  Al Ettifaq 544  Al Khaleej 398


Corners: Al Ettifaq 10  Al Khaleej 1


Yellow cards: Al Ettifaq 3  Al Khaleej 1


Aug 25, 2023, 12:17 AM

FULL-TIME STATS

Possession: Al Ahli 68 %  Al Okhdood 32 %


Shots: Al Ahli 14  Al Okhdood 6


Shots on target: Al Ahli 1  Al Okhdood 1


Passes:  Al Ahli 533  Al Okhdood 268


Corners: Al Ahli 3  Al Okhdood 2


Yellow cards: Al Ahli 0  Al Okhdood 3


Aug 25, 2023, 12:12 AM

FULL-TIME SCORES

Al Ahli 1 Al Okhdood 0


Al Ettifaq 1 Al Khaleej 1


Al Raed 0 Al Hilal 4


Al Riyadh 0 Al Ittihad 4


Aug 25, 2023, 12:08 AM

GOAL! And this time it counts. Al Ahli have won it deep into injury time as Firmino flicks on a cross and Franck Kessie heads home. It looks like three wins out of three for Al Ahli.


Aug 25, 2023, 12:05 AM

GOAL! It is 4-0 for Al Ittihad now as Saleh Al Amri gets in on the action.


Aug 25, 2023, 12:03 AM

GOAL! ... NO! Would you believe it. Roberto Firmino has the ball in the net, a nice finish poked into the corner, only for the offside flag to go up. VAR had a check ... and Firmino is denied.


Aug 24, 2023, 11:54 PM

GOAL! Abdullah Al Hamdan makes it 4-0 to Hilal. A comfortable night's work at the  King Abdullah Stadium for the Riyadh club


Aug 24, 2023, 11:53 PM

To be fair to the Al Ahli fans, their support is still loud and loyal but the players on the pitch still are not doing them justice.


Aug 24, 2023, 11:51 PM

RED CARDS! Two sendings off in match between  Al Hilal and Al Raed. First, Sergej Milinkovic Savic sees red for Al Hilal, before Al Raed's Oumar Gonzalez joins him for an early shower after a second booking.


Aug 24, 2023, 11:48 PM

It does not look like this will be Al Ahli's night. The attacking pressure has been relentless but the final ball and shot off target from start. Riyad Mahrez has been growing increasingly frustrated - this has been a long way from the treble winning performances he was part of with Manchester City last season. There's little over 10 minutes to go