Inzaghi’s Satisfying Win: Al Hilal Rolls Through Al Akhdoud in the King’s Cup

Match recap and key moments

Italian coach Simone Inzaghi expressed full satisfaction after Al Hilal defeated Al Akhdoud 2-0 to advance to the King’s Cup quarterfinals. The opener came from a defensive mix-up as Mamadu Doumbia inadvertently steered the ball into his own net in the 41st minute, and Marcus Leonardo sealed the win with a second goal following a rebound from a Robin Neves effort.

The match was played on home soil, with Al Hilal controlling long passages and enjoying the bulk of the chances, even as the hosts stayed compact. Inzaghi noted there was little danger to their goal and insisted the team could have added more during the second half.

Speaking after the final whistle, the Italian said: “The result is satisfactory because there was no real threat against us, and we had opportunities to increase the tally.” He added that his side knew they would face a disciplined opponent and that scoring at the end of the first half helped settle nerves.

He continued: “We created many chances in the second half, but conversion was not always there. Still, the most important thing is qualification to the quarterfinals.”

Inzaghi also addressed the workload: “We’ve played four matches in ten days, so rotating players was necessary to protect them. The schedule will remain tight in the coming games.”

Regarding Matteo Batoui, the French goalkeeper who did not feature, the coach explained: “Batoui suffered an injury that kept him out for ten days and limited training; he’s a good goalkeeper and we’ll certainly benefit from him when needed.”

Highlights of Al Hilal’s camp

Looking ahead, Inzaghi outlined the framework for a post-international break camp, which will align with Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Arab Cup. The plan, whether domestic or abroad, involves friendlies to sharpen technical and physical readiness and to give minutes to players who haven’t featured regularly, plus a tailored diet program during the period.

According to the Saudi outlet “Al-Riyadhiah,” the coaching staff is weighing a domestic versus an overseas camp, with the final decision tied to the accommodations and a complete training program to optimize performance for the remaining fixtures.

Disciplinary risk for a Hilal player

Legal analyst Hassan Raddif warned that Brazilian forward Marcus Leonardo could face a stiff sanction from the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee after an incident in the Clasico against Al-Ittihad held last Friday. The penalty could include a fine of 50,000 Saudi riyals if the committee deems the actions provocative toward the crowd.

Raddif noted that the discipline panel evaluates whether the player’s conduct constitutes incitement, and the final decision hinges on the committee’s interpretation, not a simple yes or no call. The crowd's behavior toward the visiting side has its own potential repercussions, with the league potentially fining the club if crowd incidents exceed thresholds.

He added that this was the first such offense by Al-Ittihad’s supporters in this context, which could limit the sanctions to monetary penalties rather than more severe restrictions like playing without fans or relocating matches.

Hilal’s records and milestones

The win extended Al Hilal’s strong run as they beat Al Ittihad 2-0 at the Enmaa Stadium, marking another milestone in what has been a prolific season for the club. The opener, an own goal by Doumbia, came in the 41st minute and was followed by Leonardo’s strike after a Neves shot spilled by the goalkeeper.

With this victory, Hilal surpassed 500 all-time goals in the Saudi Professional League history, a record tracked by Opta. Leonardo’s second goal took Hilal to 501, cementing their position as the league’s leading scorers. The club now leads the all-time list by a comfortable margin, with Al Nassr a distant second on 447. Al Ittihad (419), Al Ahli (405), and Al Shabab (337) round out the top five.

Al Hilal now sit atop the league’s historical goalscoring chart, building a cushion of 54 goals over their nearest pursuer. The numbers reflect not only longevity but a consistent ability to produce in front of goal across seasons.

Inzaghi’s men will aim to keep the momentum through the international break and into the rest of the King’s Cup campaign, with the squad mindful of workload and the need to rotate strategically to maintain freshness for the crucial fixtures ahead.

Punchline time: If tactics were firepower, Inzaghi just cooked a five-course meal with two ingredients — defense and a little bit of luck. Punchline two: Inzaghi’s halftime talk was so sharp that even the stopwatch asked for seconds.