Al-Hilal Keeps Title Race Tight with Late Winner

Al-Hilal defeated Al-Khaleej 2-1 on May 5, 2026, at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam. This victory keeps them firmly in the title race, reducing the gap to league leaders Al-Nassr to just two points.

Joshua King opened the scoring for Al-Khaleej in the 11th minute. His goal put Al-Khaleej ahead early in the match. However, Al-Hilal responded shortly after with an equalizer.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scored for Al-Hilal just after the half-hour mark. His goal shifted momentum back to Al-Hilal as they pushed for a win. The match remained tense as both teams fought for control.

The decisive moment came when Sultan Mandash scored the winning goal for Al-Hilal in the 79th minute. This late goal ensured that Al-Hilal would take all three points.

With this result, Al-Hilal moved within two points of league leaders Al-Nassr. They remain undefeated this season, having played 30 matches, winning 22 and drawing 8.

In contrast, Al-Khaleej has struggled this season, losing 17 points from winning positions—more than any other team in the league. They have played 30 matches as well, winning only 10 and losing 13.

The last time Al-Khaleej managed to defeat Al-Hilal was during the 2024/25 season. Historically, matches between these two teams often end with a scoreline of 0-3 in favor of Al-Hilal.

Al-Hilal’s next challenge will be against league leaders Al-Nassr on May 12. This upcoming match could be pivotal for both teams in determining the title outcome.