Inzaghi: Al-Hilal deserved Al Hazem win despite missed chances

Simone Inzaghi said Al-Hilal deserved all three points after securing a 1-0 victory over Al Hazem in the 10th round of the Saudi Pro League.

The decisive moment came in the 89th minute, when Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli scored the only goal of the match to give the home side victory.

“The players deserved to win based on what they produced, but the missed chances were frustrating,” Inzaghi said, according to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiya.

Al-Hilal dominated the opportunities but were unable to turn their superiority into a more comfortable scoreline. Inzaghi pointed to their 21 attempts as evidence of the attacking pressure they applied.

“We had 21 shots towards goal, but only one of them found the net,” he added.

The result moved Al-Hilal to 24 points at the top of the Saudi Pro League, two points clear of second-placed Al Qadsiah.

Al-Hilal will face Al Qadsiah on Friday in the 11th round of the competition, with Inzaghi’s side then set to travel to Qatar for their next AFC Champions League Elite fixture.

“We will travel to Dammam to play Al Qadsiah in the league, and in all likelihood we will stay there until departing for Doha to play in the AFC Champions League Elite,” Inzaghi said.

Following the league meeting, Al-Hilal will visit Al Shamal on Tuesday, 27 October, in the third round of the West region group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite.