KING FAHD INTERNATIONAL STADIUM, SAUDI ARABIA — Al Hilal cruised to a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Al Ettifaq at Kingdom Arena, with Mohamed Kanno and Salem Al-Dawsari providing the firepower that maintained their relentless pursuit of silverware. The hosts dominated from start to finish, controlling 59.3% of possession and creating a constant stream of opportunities that left their visitors chasing shadows for much of the contest.
The breakthrough arrived early as Kanno broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, capitalizing on Al Hilal's early pressure to give the home side a deserved lead. The midfielder's clinical finish set the tone for what would become a one-sided affair, with Al Ettifaq struggling to gain any foothold in the match. Al-Dawsari, ever the talisman, doubled the advantage just past the half-hour mark with a composed finish in the 31st minute that effectively killed the contest as a competitive spectacle. His goal showcased the quality that has made him one of the Saudi Pro League's most feared attackers, and Al Ettifaq had no answer to his movement and precision.
Al Hilal's attacking intent was evident throughout, as they registered 17 shots compared to Al Ettifaq's 10, with eight of those efforts forcing saves from the visiting goalkeeper. The Al Ettifaq custodian was called into action seven times, producing a string of impressive stops that prevented the scoreline from becoming embarrassing. His heroics kept his side in touching distance on the scoreboard, even if the overall flow of the match told a different story. In contrast, Al Hilal's goalkeeper enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon, needing to make just three saves as his defense remained largely untroubled.
The visitors' frustration was compounded by their inability to test the home goalkeeper with any regularity. Despite managing 10 attempts, Al Ettifaq could only direct two on target, a damning statistic that highlighted their lack of cutting edge in the final third. João Costa and Abdulbasit Hindi both found their way into the referee's notebook with yellow cards in the 74th and 77th minutes respectively, as Al Ettifaq's discipline wavered in the face of Al Hilal's superiority. The hosts, meanwhile, committed 11 fouls to their opponents' five but avoided any bookings, maintaining their composure throughout.
Al Hilal's tactical superiority was evident in every department. They won seven corners to Al Ettifaq's five, demonstrating their ability to pin their opponents back and create danger from set pieces. The midfield battle was comprehensively won by the hosts, with Kanno's early goal setting the platform for his side to dictate terms. Al-Dawsari's movement caused constant problems, dragging defenders out of position and creating space for his teammates to exploit. The substitutions told their own story, with Al Hilal able to introduce fresh legs in the form of Moteb Al-Harbi in the 70th minute, while Al Ettifaq made desperate changes in search of a route back into the contest.
Faris Al Ghamdi was withdrawn in the 64th minute as the visitors sought to inject some energy into their attack, followed by Jalal Al Salem and Koka in the 71st and 72nd minutes respectively. Abdullah Al Ghamdi came on in the 85th minute, but by then the outcome had long been decided. Al Hilal made their own changes late on, with Ali Lajami entering in the 87th minute before a triple substitution in stoppage time saw Sultan Mandash, Mohamed Meïté, and Saïmon Bouabré all introduced as the hosts managed the closing stages with ease.
The statistics painted a picture of complete dominance. Al Hilal's 59.3% possession allowed them to control the tempo and dictate when to press and when to sit back. Their shot accuracy was far superior, with eight of their 17 attempts forcing saves compared to Al Ettifaq's meager two from 10 efforts. The visitors' wastefulness in front of goal proved costly, as they failed to capitalize on the few opportunities they created. Al Hilal's defensive organization was equally impressive, limiting Al Ettifaq to speculative efforts from distance that rarely troubled their goalkeeper.
This victory continues Al Hilal's impressive form and reinforces their status as one of the Saudi Pro League's elite sides. Their ability to control matches from start to finish, combined with clinical finishing from players like Kanno and Al-Dawsari, makes them formidable opponents for anyone. Al Ettifaq, meanwhile, will need to address their attacking deficiencies if they are to climb the table, as two shots on target from 10 attempts simply isn't good enough at this level.
Buoyed by this result, Al Hilal now prepare for Al-Wahda on February 16. Al Ettifaq will seek redemption when they travel to face Al Fateh on February 19.