Al-Najma 2–4 Al-Hilal: Neves Turns from Villain to Hero
Ruben Neves experienced a dramatic evening, scoring an own goal before redeeming himself with a sublime free-kick as Al-Hilal secured a 4–2 win over nine-man Al-Najma in the Saudi Pro League.
Al-Hilal preserved their unbeaten start to the season, coming from behind twice in a high-energy match. Al-Najma took the lead early through Lazaro after a misplaced clearance by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, but Salem Al-Dawsari quickly equalized with a powerful strike past Victor Braga.
In the second half, Lazaro received a straight red card in the 58th minute for violent conduct. Despite being down to ten men, Al-Najma briefly regained the lead when Neves accidentally deflected the ball into his own net. However, Al-Hilal responded swiftly as Al-Dawsari assisted Theo Hernandez to level the score once again with a calm finish into the bottom corner.
The turning point came in the 76th minute when Jawad El Yamiq was dismissed for a last-man challenge. Neves converted the resulting free-kick, putting Al-Hilal ahead. In the closing minutes, Al-Dawsari sealed the win, dribbling past Braga to score, while Malcom struck the post in added time.
“Despite scoring an own goal, Neves’s free-kick secured victory for Al-Hilal in a match filled with dramatic turns.”
Author’s Summary
Neves’s journey from mishap to match-winner highlighted Al-Hilal’s resilience as they overturned deficits to maintain their unbeaten league record.
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