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Al-Hilal's Perfect Run Shattered by Goalkeeper Injury and Defensive Blunders
7 Sep
Summary
- Moroccan goalkeeper Bounou's pre-match injury created a crisis for Al-Hilal.
- Defensive errors, including an own goal and goalkeeper's misjudgment, led to a two-goal deficit.
- Al-Hilal's five-match winning streak ended with a surprising 0-2 halftime score against Neom.
Al-Hilal's flawless start to the Roshn League was dramatically halted by Neom, with a pre-match injury to their Moroccan goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, proving pivotal. The absence of Bounou led to Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais starting, whose performance was below par.
Kalidou Koulibaly's own goal in the 15th minute handed Neom an unexpected lead. This early setback complicated matters for Al-Hilal, who were still reeling from Bounou's unavailability. The defensive disarray continued as Al-Owais's rash decision to leave his line allowed Amadou Koné to score Neom's second goal just before halftime.
This 0-2 halftime deficit marked a rare occasion for Al-Hilal in the Pro League, with the last similar situation occurring in May 2025. Neom's victory was bolstered by statistics showing their strong record when scoring first, underscoring Al-Hilal's uncharacteristic struggles.
