Al Ahli defender Demiral dismissed after fiery Al Hilal first half

Merih Demiral was sent off in the Al Ahli defender’s latest disciplinary setback as Al Hilal increased the pressure on coach Marino Pusic during their Saudi Pro League classic.

Demiral received a second yellow card followed by a red in the final minute of first-half stoppage time, leaving Al Ahli to play the entire second half with 10 men at Kingdom Arena on Tuesday evening.

The Venezuela referee, Jesus Valenzuela, dismissed the Turkey international after he made a heavy challenge on Crysencio Summerville. The incident came with Al Ahli already 2-0 down in the fixture, which had been postponed from the third round of the competition.

The dismissal was Demiral’s third red card since joining Al Ahli. It was the first time he had been sent off after collecting two yellow cards, having previously received straight red cards in matches against Al Fateh and Al Kholood in the Saudi Pro League.

Al Ahli therefore went into the dressing room at half-time trailing by two goals and facing the second half a player short. The setback added to a difficult evening for Pusic, whose side were already up against the reigning Saudi Pro League title contenders.

Demiral had also been involved in another flashpoint shortly before his dismissal. The defender pulled Al Hilal player Mohammed Mahzari, provoking a heated confrontation involving players from both teams.

The Turkish defender’s red card means he will miss Al Ahli’s next Saudi Pro League match, against Riyadh on Friday. His absence will further reduce Pusic’s defensive options after the turbulent meeting with Al Hilal.

The match formed part of a high-profile Saudi Pro League programme at Kingdom Arena, where the two clubs contested one of the competition’s most prominent fixtures. Al Ahli were forced to manage the remainder of the contest without Demiral after the late first-half incident.

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