Shadows, Sparks, and a 4-1 Triumph: Hilal's Flight to the King's Cup Semis
29 November 2025
The curtain fell on the Al Hilal vs Al Fateh match played Saturday evening, in the King’s Cup quarterfinals, delivering plenty of numbers and memorable moments.
Al Hilal registered a big 4-1 win over Al Fateh to advance to the semi-finals, with the path to the last four set to be decided in the upcoming clash between Al Shabab and Al Ittihad. Kooora highlights the key moments and numbers that defined the game in the lines below.
Darwin Nunez Injury Casts Shadow Over Al Hilal
The match sparked concern in the squad of the “leader” after Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez pulled up in the 41st minute with a thigh muscle pain, forcing him off the pitch.
The injury came at a crucial moment as Hilal sought to assert control and extend the lead; Italian coach Simone Inzaghi faced a major challenge, but he did not hesitate to bring on Marcos Leonardo to replace Nunez, a decision that paid off later. The medical staff are carefully assessing Nunez to estimate the potential duration of the layoff, with close monitoring by the coach and technical staff to avoid harming the team’s cohesion in forthcoming matches.
Marcos Leonardo Writes History
The Brazilian Marcos Leonardo continued his eye-catching form, scoring the fourth goal for Hilal against Al Fateh, bringing his tally to 40 for the club and placing him as the seventh-best foreign scorer in the club’s history.
Leonardo sits behind a string of greats in the club’s history: top is Frenchman Bafetimbi Gomis (113), followed by Brazilian Carlos Eduardo (81), then Serbian Mitrović (68), then Brazilian Tiago Neves (59), then Nigerian Ighalo and Swedish Wilhelmsson (43 each), Malcom (42).
Hassan Tombakti Returns Stronger After Injury
The Moroccan Hassan Tombakti returned from injury and scored his first goal of the season in tonight’s match, confirming his physical and technical readiness to feature regularly in coming games.
His goal gave the team a significant morale boost, helping restore balance in Hilal’s midfield and reinforcing control of the proceedings.
His presence also provides Inzaghi with multiple attacking and defensive options, especially when dealing with teams that rely on quick transitions, making his involvement key in any upcoming lineup.
Robin Neves Shines
The Portuguese Robin Neves proved he is more than just a midfield pivot, a decisive contributor who changed the course of the match, scoring a key goal against Al Fateh to become the third highest scorer for Hilal under Inzaghi, with 6 goals and 3 assists.
Neves also showed his ability to read the game, create chances for others, and move smartly between lines, making him a core pillar of Hilal's performance this season.
Simone Inzaghi Continues Making History With Hilal
Inzaghi continued his winning run with Hilal, achieving 13 consecutive wins across competitions under his leadership.
His role extended beyond tactical organization, as he motivates players and leverages each player's strengths, evident in how the team managed Nunez’s absence and efficiently used Leonardo and Tombakti.
This display reflects strong tactical discipline and fighting spirit, making Hilal a fierce competitor for all domestic and continental trophies and giving them a strong morale boost ahead of the King’s Cup semi-finals and upcoming decisive clashes.
Punchline 1: If precision were a weapon, this team would be a sniper—every shot lands, even the ones I pretend to miss.
Punchline 2: Football is the only sport where even a mis-kick becomes a highlight reel—proof that chaos can still produce a standing ovation for the ball.
