Al-Faraj praises Al-Hilal’s swagger after emphatic Al-Ahli victory

Saudi football presenter Walid Al-Faraj described Al-Hilal’s 3-0 victory over Al-Ahli as a display of the club’s strength, saying the Saudi leaders had finally shown the attacking character he had been waiting to see.

Al-Hilal defeated their traditional rivals in the delayed match from the third round of the Roshn Saudi League on Tuesday. The game was played at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, where the home side moved to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of Al-Nassr.

Speaking on his programme Rotana Sport with Walid after the match, Al-Faraj said Al-Hilal had produced a performance unlike any seen from them for some time.

“Al-Hilal released the Premier League spirit inside them. There is no other way to describe it. Al-Hilal appeared in a way we have not seen for a long time,” he said.

The result was made more significant by the influence of Al-Hilal’s new signings. Crysencio Summerville created one goal and scored another, while Ollie Watkins completed the scoring with his first goal in the Roshn Saudi League on his debut in the competition.

“Al-Hilal beat Al-Ahli 3-0, and the new players have started to show their quality,” Al-Faraj added. “Crysencio Summerville created and scored, while Ollie Watkins scored the third goal on his first appearance in the Roshn Saudi League.”

Al-Faraj also praised the atmosphere inside Kingdom Arena, with Al-Hilal supporters producing a large-scale display across all four sides of the stadium. A different tifo was presented in each section, creating what he described as a striking visual spectacle during the high-profile fixture.

“It was a big match, with a beautiful sight in the stands at Kingdom Arena,” he said. “Al-Hilal’s fans created a tifo that appeared on all four sides of the stadium, with a different design in each section.”

The presenter said the victory offered Al-Hilal supporters a rare sense of reassurance, with the team combining a convincing result, a strong attacking display and a move to first place in the league.

“It was Al-Hilal showing their strength, in the stands and in front of goal,” Al-Faraj said. “For the first time, their fans felt some reassurance. The team won and moved to the top of the Roshn Saudi League on goal difference from Al-Nassr.”

The broadcast clip also featured former football analyst Imad Al-Salmi, who said Al-Hilal had not produced such a performance since the FIFA Club World Cup. The discussion included praise for Summerville’s influence and the scale of the supporters’ celebrations at Kingdom Arena.

The win strengthened Al-Hilal’s position at the summit after the postponed fixture, while Al-Ahli were left to reflect on a heavy defeat against their Riyadh rivals.