Tenacity Triumph: Al-Hilal Edges Al-Fath with Late Winner and Grit

Match Report

Italian coach Simone Inzaghi praised Al-Hilal’s fighting spirit after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Al-Fath in the ninth round of the Roshen Pro League. The hosts trailed early when Al-Fath struck inside the opening 10 minutes, but Al-Hilal answered through Darwin Nunez in the 26th minute and eventually sealed the win with a late penalty converted by Robin Neves. It was a win built on grit more than glamour.

The win came with a twist: Al-Hilal played much of the final 10 minutes with ten men after Nasser Al-Dosri was sent off. Inzaghi acknowledged the difficulty of those final minutes, praising the players’ resolve and noting that the result reflected their perseverance rather than a flawless performance.

After the match, the coach spoke about starts to games and a few misunderstandings in the opening minutes this season. He stressed the need to sharpen early intensity, as slow beginnings have appeared more than once. He also singled out Salem and Keno, saying they contributed well even though Keno sometimes lost the ball, a recurring risk after the international break when teams juggle rhythm.

On discipline and squad depth, Inzaghi warned against administrative sanctions in the wake of the red card and pointed out how playing with a numerical disadvantage makes things harder. He hailed the impact of substitutes Darci and Al-Maliki, added that the youngsters brought energy but could not start due to their age, and insisted the side pressed on despite six missing regulars.

The manager also noted that while technically there were mistakes to address, the spirit shown under adverse conditions was as important as the scoreline. He admitted frustration about the early penalty but insisted it did not define the afternoon, and he remained convinced that improvements in the coming weeks would help sustain a title bid.

On the other bench, Jose Gomez, the Fath coach, conceded the strength of the opponent and said he tried to use the numerical gap to his team’s advantage but could not get the desired result. With the red card in minute 79, Al-Fath pressed in the final stretch but found chances scarce and the defending side compacted.

Gomez added that Cup ties differ from league fixtures and hinted at a fresh head-to-head in the King Salman Cup in the days ahead. He praised the method of integrating academy players such as Abdulaziz Al-Fawaz, stressing that cup matches offer chances to test youth.

The victory tightens Al-Hilal’s grip on the race, moving them closer to leaders, now just one point behind. The club still pursues local and Asian honours, leading West in the AFC Champions League group and posting only a few league slips (four points from draws with Al-Ahli and Qadisiyah).

As the season progresses, Inzaghi’s men will hope stability returns and that the starting periods improve. They did not feature in the Saudi Super Cup this season, but domestic form and Asia remain within reach.

Punchline 1: If precision were a weapon, Inzaghi would be allowed to assemble a full arsenal on the training pitch. Punchline 2: The clipboard in his hand should come with a safety warning—it’s sharp enough to draw a midfield line in real time.