Malcom double hands Al-Hilal pre-season victory over Mamelodi Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns slipped to their first defeat of pre-season as a Malcom brace gave Al-Hilal a 2-0 friendly win on Friday evening.

The Saudi Pro League side, coached on the day by Simone Inzaghi’s staff, capitalised on their attacking superiority in each half to edge past the African champions and reverse the result from the same stage of last year’s preparations.

Sundowns, who had drawn with German club Hertha Berlin earlier in the week after coming from behind, again began positively and pressed high in the opening stages. However, their early intensity was undone when Malcom burst through the middle of the Brazilians’ defence and finished low past the diving Ronwen Williams to open the scoring.

Tashreeq Matthews almost produced an immediate response. Cutting inside from the flank, the forward created space for a low drive from a tight angle inside the box, but goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie reacted sharply, plunging to his near post to beat away the shot.

Al-Rubaie was called into action again as half-time approached. Cassius Mailula, having continued his run after a neat one-two around the edge of the area, closed in on goal, only for the Al-Hilal keeper to step across to his near post and bravely smother the danger.

Malcom completes his brace

Any hopes of a Sundowns fightback were dealt a major blow soon after the restart.

Within roughly five minutes of the second half beginning, Malcom once more found space inside the penalty area, timing his movement to meet a cross from the right. The Brazilian forward calmly side-footed the ball into the bottom corner to complete his brace and double Al-Hilal’s advantage.

In response, Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso turned to his bench in an effort to shift the momentum of the game. Reyaad Pieterse, Fawaaz Basadien, Sphelele Mkhulise, Themba Zwane and Lebo Mothiba were all introduced as the South African champions sought a route back into the contest.

Despite the changes, Sundowns struggled to consistently trouble Al-Hilal’s defensive shape. Simone Inzaghi’s charges largely kept the game in front of them, forcing the Brazilians to resort to shots from distance and feeding off half-chances rather than clear openings in the final third.

Al-Hilal avenge last year’s defeat

Although the match remained competitive and finely balanced in general play, Sundowns were unable to turn their spells of possession into a breakthrough, and Al-Hilal saw out the closing stages with relative composure.

The result ensured the Riyadh club secured a measure of revenge after losing to Sundowns at the same point of their pre-season programme last year.

For Masandawana, the defeat brings an end to their unbeaten start to this year’s preparations abroad, while offering Cardoso further insight into his squad’s sharpness and areas for refinement ahead of the new campaign.