Sports
Al-Hilal 4-1 Al-Fayha: Seven-point lead restored with comfortable win
Al-Hilal restored their seven-point advantage at the top of the Saudi Pro League with a come-from-behind 4-1 success against Al-Fayha.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Mohamed Kanno and Marcos Leonardo were on target for the defending champions, while visiting goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera put through his own net, as they responded to victories for Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli earlier this week.
Simone Inzaghi’s men got off to a poor start as Fashion Sakala capitalised on a weak punch from Mohammed Al Yami to tap into an unguarded net, 14 minutes in.
But Milinkovic-Savic got them level with a stunning overhead kick in the 37th minute, and they went into half-time with a 2-1 lead after Mosquera came out to punch a Ruben Neves free-kick and instead sent it skimming into his own net.
Captain Kanno led from the front with a bullet header – from another superb Neves delivery – to extend Al-Hilal’s lead in the 61st minute, and Leonardo got the goal he deserved following a bright performance in the 90th minute.
It was another Neves cross that found the Brazilian, and he met it on the dive to give Mosquera no chance.
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— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) January 22, 2026
Data Debrief: Leonardo reaches quarter-century, Neves shines again
Leonardo’s goal was his 25th in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Hilal, and it came against the side he scored his very first goal in the competition against, in October 2024.
At the age of 22 years and 261 days, the Brazilian is the youngest player to reach that figure for the club.
Al-Hilal richly deserved their victory after firing off 19 shots to the visitors’ nine, hitting the target five times. They also generated 1.89 expected goals (xG) to Al-Fayha’s 0.73.
Neves was another star performer for the hosts, forcing Mosquera’s own goal then supplying two assists.
It was the fourth time Neves has supplied multiple assists in the same Saudi Pro League game, more occasions than any other player since he arrived from Wolves in 2023 – he has accounted for four of 13 instances across the league in that time.
