Al Hilal Salvage Point As Al-Dawsari Cancels Penalty Miss Against Al-Qadsiah

Salem Al-Dawsari rescued Al-Hilal with a 90th-minute strike in a 2-2 draw against Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League, after earlier missing a penalty. The late goal preserved Al-Hilal’s three-point advantage

at the top, on a night when the leaders were close to a damaging defeat.

The result also extended Al-Hilal’s outstanding league sequence. Simone Inzaghi’s side are now unbeaten in 26 Saudi Pro League matches, although they have been held in consecutive league games for the first time since September, offering a small opening to the clubs chasing the title.

Al-Qadsiah entered this match aiming to close the gap on the leading pair, particularly after Al-Ahli’s win 24 hours earlier had tightened the Saudi Pro League picture. Dropping all three points would have reduced Al-Hilal’s cushion to just two, so the comeback equaliser carried clear importance in the standings.

Underlying numbers underlined Al-Hilal’s dominance despite the scoreline. Inzaghi’s team produced 19 attempts, generating 2.6 expected goals and carving out six big chances. By contrast, Al-Qadsiah posted 0.96 expected goals from only seven shots, yet came within seconds of taking a notable victory over the league leaders.

Al-Hilal’s resilience again stood out. The Riyadh side have gathered 20 points from losing positions in this league campaign, highlighting a habit of late recoveries. Given that record, Al-Qadsiah might have anticipated pressure in the closing stages, especially once fatigue set in and space opened around the penalty area.

The hosts had started aggressively and were rewarded inside eight minutes. Ruben Neves scored directly from a right-sided corner, his delivery curling towards the near upright, kissing the inside of the post, and crossing the line for an Olimpico that stunned the Al-Qadsiah defence and goalkeeper Koen Casteels.

Al-Qadsiah responded almost immediately. Just over two minutes later, Nahitan Nandez chased a long pass over the top, controlled under pressure, and calmly finished beyond the stretching leg of Yassine Bounou. That swift reply shifted momentum and settled the match into a more even contest, with both midfields competing fiercely.

Al-Hilal looked set to regain control early in the second half when Al-Dawsari drew a penalty after a foul by Jehad Thikri. Al-Dawsari took responsibility from the spot but struck a weak effort, allowing Casteels to guess correctly and push the ball away, a save that lifted Al-Qadsiah’s confidence.

The home side were punished on 76 minutes. Against the flow of play, Musab Al-Juwayr delivered a hanging cross and Julian Quinones leapt highest to direct a firm header past Bounou. Moments later, Darwin Nunez wasted a clear chance, setting the stage for the closing drama in stoppage time.

Al-Hilal finally levelled when a Neves free-kick was half-cleared to the edge of the box. The ball dropped for Al-Dawsari, who reacted first and drove a powerful shot into the top-left corner. The goal, arriving in the 90th minute, ensured Al-Hilal escaped with a point and maintained control of the title race.

Team	Goals	Shots	Expected Goals (xG)	Big Chances
Al-Hilal	2	19	2.6	6
Al-Qadsiah	2	7	0.96	—

Draw at the end. pic.twitter.com/bQ0w0bv5EKAlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) January 29, 2026

This draw left Al-Qadsiah short of their target to increase pressure on the top two, yet the performance showed discipline against the division’s leading side. For Al-Hilal, the match reinforced both attacking strength and defensive vulnerability, but crucially also maintained a valuable advantage in the Saudi Pro League table.