In Al Khobar, Al-Qadsiah’s home night against Simone Inzaghi’s star-filled Al-Hilal began with promise when Julián Quiñones rose to equalise, but it ended in a 4-1 defeat as the visitors’ attacking quality took over after the interval.
Key takeaways
- Mexican international Julián Quiñones scored Al-Qadsiah’s goal in the 31st minute.
- The striker has reached four goals in the competition, following his Saudi Pro League Golden Boot-winning campaign last season.
- Gabriel Martinelli put Al-Hilal ahead after 21 minutes, with Ollie Watkins involved in the move.
- Rúben Neves, Sergej Milinković-Savić and Mateo Retegui scored after the break to secure the visitors’ 4-1 win.
- Ivan Toney remains comfortably ahead of the chasing pack in the competition’s scoring race.
Quiñones answers after Al-Hilal’s early strike
Al-Hilal made the sharper opening in a lively first half, taking the lead in the 21st minute. Martinelli found the net with an outside-of-the-foot effort that took a deflection, after Watkins had helped create the opening.
Al-Qadsiah responded ten minutes later through Quiñones. Musab Al-Juwayr collected possession near the edge of the penalty area and lifted a measured ball into the box. Quiñones met it with a firm, accurate header, beating Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to bring the hosts level.
The goal was another marker in a prolific period for the Mexican forward, who has continued scoring regularly after finishing as the Saudi Pro League’s top scorer last term. His fourth strike of this competition keeps him among the leading scorers, even if Toney has built a substantial advantage at the summit.
Late Al-Hilal surge settles the contest
The score remained level into the second half before Al-Hilal found their decisive breakthrough in the 77th minute. Milinković-Savić supplied Neves, whose finish restored the visitors’ lead.
Milinković-Savić then moved from creator to scorer seven minutes later, converting after a pass from S. Mandash to give Al-Hilal breathing room. The final blow arrived three minutes after that, when Retegui finished a move set up by Tijjani Reijnders.
For Al-Qadsiah, Quiñones’ header offered a brief route back into a demanding match against one of the division’s most lavishly assembled sides. Al-Hilal, however, turned their control and depth into a commanding scoreline during the closing stages.
