Derby Darling: Dawsari’s Late Pepperoni Hit Reclaims Al Hilal’s Pride in Riyadh
12 January 2026
Match context
The legend Salem Al-Dawsari, captain of Al Hilal, shone again in the Riyadh derby against Al Nassr on Monday night, as the 15th round of the Saudi Pro League unfolded. The stage was set for a high-stakes clash between the two giants, with the atmosphere buzzing and the stakes high.
Al-Dawsari delivered when it mattered, converting a late penalty in the 57th minute of the second half to equalize and spark a roar from the stands. His spot-kick was dispatched with notable composure and precision, a reminder that his experience often translates into crucial moments in big games.
With this goal, Al Nassr remains the preferred opponent for Al-Dawsari across all competitions, lifting his tally to 12 goals against the “global” rivals and underscoring his derby pedigree.
Penalty streak and significance
Hilal has been flawless from the spot recently, converting all of their last seven penalties. The last miss dates back to February 8, 2025, when Portuguese star Ruben Neves failed to convert against Damk, a rare off-night in a otherwise impeccable run.
The Zonal pressure of the box hasn’t dimmed Al-Dawsari’s shine; this moment reaffirmed that the box can be a perilous place for him, given past misses for both club and country. Yet in this derby, he found the spark again and reminded everyone why he’s trusted in the most crucial moments.
Punchline: Penalties don’t negotiate; Dawsari just signed the lease to the back of the net. Punchline 2: If drama had a scoreboard, this Riyadh derby could light up a city—Dawsari turned pressure into a laser-guided finish.
